i^: 


BX9211  .P49124S406  1905 
Price,  James. 
History  of  the  Seventh 
United  Presbyterian  Church, 


KIRH'i-    1    III    l<<    II      IKllK 


Hi-.\i;Nrii   toN 


lUI  .<  1   \II«>N 


HISTORY 


OF    THE 


Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Church 

Frankford,  Philadelphia 

1853-1905 


WITH    A    HISTORICAL    SUMMARY    OF    THE    UNITED    PRES- 
BYTERIAN CHURCH  OP  NORTH  AMERICA :    AND  A 
SKETCH  OF  THE  CONGREGATIONS 
IN  PHILADELPHIA. 


BY    JAMES    PRICE,    D.    D. 

Pastor  of  the  Twelfth  United  Presbyteriaa  Church,  Philadelphia ;   Stated 

Clerk  of  the  United   Presbyterian   Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  and 

Recording  Secretary  of  tlie  Presbyterian  Historical  Society 


STATEMENT. 
No.  21  North  Front  st.,  Philadelphia, 
November  30,  1901. 
Rev.  James  Price,  D.  D., 

No.  107  East  Lehigh  ave.,  Philadelphia : 
My  Dear  Doctor  Price  : — 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Session  of  the  Seventh  United  Presby- 
terian Church,  Frankford,  Philadelphia,  held  on  November  19, 
1 901,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  to  request  you  to  write  for  us  the 
history  of  our  congregation  from  the  organization  until  the  termi- 
nation of  your  pastorate.  It  was  felt  that  you  were  peculiarly 
fitted  to  do  this  from  the  extensive  records  of  the  organization 
possessed  by  you  and  your  connection  with  the  early  history  of 
our  church  from  its  organization.  It  is  our  intention  to  preserve 
this  history'  should  you  favor  us  by  preparing  it,  so  that  the  early 
work  and  struggles  of  our  organization  may  be  permanently 
recorded. 

I  was  also  directed  to  say  on  behalf  of  our  Session  that  any 
records  or  other  papers,  concerning  our  church  that  you  may  have 
will  be  most  thankfully  accepted  by  our  Session  should  you  see 
your  way  clear  at  any  time  to  donate  them  to  us.  Very  sincerely, 

ROBT.  L.  LATIMER, 

Clerk  of  Session, 
Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Frankford,  Philada. 


The  writer  consented  to  comply  with  both  the  above  requests, 
with  the  understanding  that  the  History,  if  written,  should  be 
published,  to  which  the  session  agreed.  And  afterwards,  the 
Pastor,  Dr.  Kyle,  and  the  officers  of  the  congregation  requested 
that  the  narrative  be  continued  until  the  present  time,  which  has 
been  done.  J,  P. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  February      ,  1905. 


coisrTEisrTS 


SUMMARY -OF  THE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 
OF  NORTH  AMERICA,  I-IV. 

SKETCH  OF    THE    CONGREGATIONS   IN   PHILADEL- 
PHIA. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVENTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH,  PHILADELPHIA. 

Chapter   i.     From  the  origin  of  the  Mission  to  the  ordination  of 
James  Price,  the  first  pastor,  1853 — 1856. 

Chapter  II.     From  the  settlement  of  James  Price,  the  first  pastor, 
to  the  Union  of  1858.     1856— 1858. 

Chapter  III.     From  the  Union  of  1858  to  the  sale  of  the  old 
church,  1858 — 1863. 

Chapter  IV.     From  the  sale  of  the  old  church  to  the  rousing  of 
a  missionary  spirit,  1863 — 1865. 

Chapter  V.     From  the  rousing  of  a   missionary   spirit  to  the 
founding  of  the  new  church  building,  1865 — 1868. 

Chapter  VI.     From  the  founding  of  the  new  building  to  its  open- 
ing, 1868— 1869. 

Chapter  VII.     From  the  opening  of  the  new  building  to  the 
pastor's  entering  his  own  house,  1869 — 1872. 

Chapter  VIII.     From  the  pastor's  entering  his  own  house  to  his 
resignation.     1872 — 1873. 

Chapter  IX.     From  the  resignation  of  James  Price,  first  pastor, 
to  the  present  time. 

APPENDIX. 


HISTORIC/IL  SUMMARY  OF  THE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH  OF  NORTH  AMERICA,  TOGETHER  WITH  A 
SKETCH  OF  THE  CONGREGATIONS  IN  PHILADELPHIA. 

This  our  denomination  took  its  immediate  rise  in  a  union  be- 
tween the  Associate  and  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Churches  of  this  country  in  the  year  1858  ;  and  thus  originating  in 
this  land  it  is  truly  an  American  Church ;  and  yet,  like  a  number 
of  great  ecclesiastical  organizations  of  our  country,  it  must  trace 
its  earlier  origin  in  Presbyterian  lands  across  the  sea ;  our  more 
remote  ancestors  being  the  Church  of  Scotland,  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  and  the  Associate  or  Secession  Churches  of  the  same 
country.  The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Scotland  with  which  all 
Presbyterian  Churches  in  this  land  are  more  or  less  connected 
by  ancient  maternal  ties,  has  passed  through  wonderful  vicissi- 
tudes, but  through  her  and  the  Culdee  Church  we  can,  by  the 
noblest  apostolic  succession,  trace  an  unbroken  historical  connec- 
tion between  our  Presbyterian  and  the  primitive  Church,  and  that 
succession  not  lying  in  hierarchical  ordination  but  in  the  transmis- 
sion of  the  truth. 

The  Church  of  Scotland  was  at  one  time  enslaved  by  Popery, 
and  again  by  Prelacy ;  but  within  her  were  heroic  men  who  would 
neither  be  defiled  by  the  corruptions  of  the  one,  nor  bow  to  the 
tyranny  of  the  other.  These  persons  styled  themselves  Reformed 
Presbyterians,  and  their  origin  as  a  distinct  branch  of  the  Church 
we  might  place  about  the  middle  of  the  Seventeenth  Century,  to- 
ward the  close  of  the  Second  Reformation.  Through  various  trials 
and  persecutions  these  faithful  sons  of  the  Covenant  are  called  to 
pass  at  the  time  of  the  Commonwealth  and  the  reigns  of  Charles 
II  and  his  brother,  James  II.  During  most  of  this  period  they 
might  be  said  to  have  been  without  either  ministers  or  leaders ; 
but  they  formed  themselves  into  praying  societies  for  the  strength- 
ening of  their  principles  and  the  maintenance  of  their  cause.  Wil- 
liam, Prince  of  Orange,  ascended  the  throne  in  1688,  and  although 
the  Covenanters  rejoiced  at  the  rise  of  this  friend  of  truth  and 
liberty,  they  could  not  approve  of  the  Revolution  Settlement,  be- 


8  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

cause  they  felt  it  interfered  with  the  crown  rights  of  their  heavenly 
King.  In  1743  the  Reformed  Presbyterians  of  Scotland  formed 
their  first  Presbytery,  and  thirty-one  years  after  three  ministers 
from  Great  Britain  organized  their  first  Presbytery  in  the  United 
States. 

ASSOCIATE  OR  SECESSION  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 
OF  SCOTLAND. 

This  denomination  had  its  origin  in  the  year  1733  by  a  seces- 
sion from  the  Church  of  Scotland.  Through  corruption  in  doc- 
trine, laxity  in  discipline,  and  ecclesiastical  tyranny,  four  ministers. 
Revs.  Ebenezer  Erskine,  William  Wilson,  Alexander  Moncrief 
and  James  Fisher  were  compelled  to  take  their  stand  against  these 
evils  and  to  secede  from  the  Church.  So  rapid  was  their  increase 
that  in  1742  they  organized  themselves  into  a  Synod  and  in  1753 
this  body  was  able  to  respond  to  the  Macedonian  cry  of  Pennsyl- 
vania by  sending  two  missionaries,  Revs.  Alexander  Gellatly  and 
Andrew  Arnot  to  lalior  among  the  people  of  the  eastern  part  of 
this  colony.  These  ministers  soon  formed  themselves  into  what 
was  styled  The  Associate  Presbytery  of  Pennsylvania,  and  after  a 
time,  through  other  ministers  being  sent  from  the  mother  country, 
they  organized  a  second  court  termed  The  Associate  Presbytery 
of  New  York. 

After  years  of  negotiation  a  union  was  in  1782  effected  be- 
tween the  denominations  above  described — the  Associate  and  Re- 
formed Presbyterian,  the  new  denomination  taking  the  combined 
name  of  its  antecedent  branches,  that  is  The  Associate  Reformed 
Church.  But  this  union,  instead  of  making  one  united  church 
really  made  three,  parts  of  each  of  the  two  old  branches  refusing 
to  enter  the  new  organization.  The  Associate  people  who  refused 
to  unite  with  the  new  denomination,  if  slow,  were  healthy  in  their 
growth;  so  that  in  1801  their  four  Presbyteries  were  fomied  into 
a  Synod,  and  in  1858,  a  little  over  a  half-century  after  the  denom- 
ination had  increased  to  21  Presbyteries,  231  ministers,  including 
licentiates,  293  congregations  and  23,505  communicants.  The 
Associate  Theological  Seminary,  not  the  first  on  this  Western 
Continent,  as  sometimes  erroneously  stated,  but  the  second,  was 
in  1794  established  at  Service,  T.eaver  County,  Pennsylvania. 

ASSOCIATE  REFORMED  CHURCH. 

This  denomination,  after  the  union  of  1782.  grew  quite  rapidly, 
so  tb.it  in  1802  a  General  Synod  was  formed  out  of  its  eight  Prcs- 


SKETCH    OF    CONGREGATIONS    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  9 

byteries.  This  arrangement  worked  well  for  a  few  years ;  but 
from  various  causes  a  want  of  harmony  sprang  up,  so  that  in  1820 
the  Synod  of  Sciota  withdrew ;  in  1821  the  Synod  of  the  Carolinas 
followed,  and  in  1822  the  General  Synod,  with  the  subordinate 
Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  passed  out  of  existence.  In  1855  a  Gen- 
eral Synod  was  again  formed,  and  under  its  control  in  1858  there 
were  four  subordinate  Synods,  28  Presbyteries,  253  ministers,  367 
congregations,  31,284  communicants,  three  theological  seminaries 
and  six  missionaries  in  the  foreign  field. 

For  twenty  years  previous  to  the  Union  of  1858  efiforts  had 
been  made  in  the  way  of  holding  conventions,  drawing  up  sum- 
maries of  doctrine  and  the  like,,  to  bring  together  branches  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  this  country  whose  doctrines  and  usages 
were  similar.  Two  of  these  branches — the  Associate  and  Asso- 
ciate Reformed  Churches — during  a  revival  in  the  year  1858,  were 
happily  united,  resulting  in  the  formation  of 

THE  UNITED   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH  OF   NORTH 

AMERICA. 

The  doctrinal  basis  of  the  new  organization  was  the  West- 
minster standards  with  a  modification  of  the  statement  touching 
the  Civil  Magistrate,  in  addition  to  which  there  was  also  a  Testi- 
mony for  present  truth.  A  General  Assembly  was  also  established 
in  connection  with  the  new  and  much  enlarged  denomination 
which  in  May,  1859,  held  its  first  annual  meeting  in  Xenia,  Ohio. 
For  the  purpose  of  more  efficiently  carrying  forward  missionary, 
educational  and  other  benevolent  schenoes,  seven  Boards  were 
formed  to  have  charge  of  the  leading  departments  of  the  Church's 
work.  To  show  the  growth  of  this  united  Church  in  forty-five 
years  the  following  statistics  may  be  presented  :  In  1858  there  were 
five  Synods,  42  Presbyteries,  408  ministers,  634  congregations, 
55'547  communicants;  and  $253,150  contributed  for  all  purposes; 
in  1904  there  were,  including  missionary  fields,  13  Synods,  68 
Presbyteries,  1023  ministers,  135,651  communicants,  and  $1,967,- 
444  of  total  contributions. 

SKETCH  OF  THE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGRE- 
GATIONS IN  PHILADELPHIA. 

The  first  American  calls  for  a  supply  of  preaching  that  were 
sent  to  the  Secession  Synod  of  Scotland  came  from  the  eastern 
counties  of  Pennsylvania,  especially  from  Lancaster,  Chester  and 


10  SEVENTH    UXITIvD    TRKSRYTERIAX    CHURCH. 

York.  In  the  old  manuscrip  minutes  of  the  Associate  Presbytery 
of  Pennsylvania  we  do  not  find  requests  of  this  kind  coming  from 
Philadelphia  until  November  i,  1764,  but  so  meagre  was  the  sup- 
ply of  ministers  and  licentiates  that  not  until  August  31,  1765,  was 
the  Presbytery  able  to  grant  the  oft-repeated  petitions  coming  to 
them  from  this  city.  The  first  minister  sent  to  supply  them  was 
Robert  Annan*  who  was  appointed  to  preach  in  Philadelphia  the 
first  Sabbath  of  October,  1765;  William  Marshall,  third  Sabbath 
of  October,  and  from  that  time  forward  the  different  ministers 
of  the  Presbytery  were  in  turn  appointed  to  supply  the  pulpit.  On 
April  20,  1768.  the  people  of  Philadelphia,  having  put  themselves 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  were  granted  the  moderation  of 
a  call,  which  was  afterward  made  out  for  William  Marshall,  pastor 
of  the  congregations  of  Deep  Run  and  Xe.shaminy,  in  Bucks 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Marshall  accepted  this  call,  and  was 
installed  as  pastor,  April  30,  1771,  over  what  is  now  known  as  our 
First  Congregation,  where  he  continued  until  his  death,  Novem- 
ber 17,    1802. 

Mr.  Marshall  was  a  man  of  very  superior  talents,  of  unques- 
tioned piety  and  very  highly  esteemed  in  the  community.  The 
celebrated  Doctor  Witherspoon  was  his  son-in-law,  and  the  noted 
Doctor  Rush  was  his  special  friend.  He  also  had  the  honor  of 
having  entertained  some  of  the  most  distinguished  noblemen  of 
Europe.  The  Duke  of  Orleans,  afterward  King  Louis  Philippe, 
was  compelled  to  flee  from  France  in  1796  on  account  of  the 
Revolutionary  troubles,  and  on  arriving  at  Philadelphia  he  was  in- 
vited to  occupy  the  lower  part  of  Mr.  Marshall's  house,  in  Spruce 
street,  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets,  south  side,  and  to  eat 
at  his  table.  Indeed  so  highly  was  Mr.  Marshall  respected  that 
his  funeral  was  attended  by  the  most  eminent  persons  of  this  city, 
as  also  by  the  Governor  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State. 

The  pastors  who  followed  Mr.  Marshall  were :  Joseph  Shaw, 
1805-10;  W.  C.  Brownlee,  1812-14;  John  P>anks,  1816-26;  Thomas 
Ijcveridge,  1827-1835;  Chauncey  Webster.  1837-45;  Francis 
Church,  iSs'^xjo  ;  J.  A.  Kennedy,  1891-93  ;  W.  J.  B.  Edgar,  1893 — . 

The  history  of  the  houses  of  worship  of  this  congregation 
has  been  quite  varied.  Mr.  Marshall  preached  his  first  sermon  in 
Freemasons'  Hall,  located  in  a  small  court  near  Second  and  Chest- 
nut streets ;  and  after  various  removals  the  congregation  pur- 


*  For  various  reasons  it  has  been  deemed  best  to  omit  academic 
and  other  titles  from  ministers'  names  in  this  summary. 


SKIJTCH    OF    COXGRKGATIONS    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  11 

chased  ground  on  Spruce,  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets,  on 
which  they  erected  what  was  known  as  the  Scots  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  1778  this  house  was  occupied  by  Hessian  soldiers  as  a 
hospital,  through  whom  it  was  almost  destroyed,  and  in  1786  a 
worse  disaster  came  upon  the  struggling  people.  Through  a  de- 
cision of  the  civil  Court,  in  connection  with  the  union  of  1782,  they 
lost  this  building.  Then  they  again  purchased  ground  on  Wal- 
nut street,  below  Fifth,  north  side,  on  which  in  1791  they  erected 
a  house  of  worship,  and  it  was  in  this  building  that  in  1801  The 
Associate  Synod  of  North  America  was  organized. 

In  1845  the  congregation  was  divided,  when  another  civil  suit 
resulted  in  the  party  of  the  First  Church  receiving  back  their  prop- 
erty— the  Walnut  Street  Church.  In  1854  they  sold  this  property 
to  The  Schuylkill  Navigation  Company  and  purchased  ground  at 
Broad  and  Lombard  streets,  on  which  they  erected  the  commo- 
dious and  handsome  building  which  was  opened  in  1856,  and  which 
they  still  occupy. 

SECOND  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

We  propose  to  consider  these  congregations  in  their  present 
numerical  order,  as  arranged  after  the  union  of  1858,  and  hence 
what  is  now  the  Second  United  Presbyterian  was  the  First  Asso- 
ciate Reformed  congregation.  This  church  was  organized  with 
five  members,  October  4,  1830.  The  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 
John  Forsyth,  1834-6;  John  Blakely  Dales,  1840-93;  C.  S. 
Cleland,  1894 — . 

This  congregation  has  sometimes  been  termed  The  Vow, 
and  at  other  times  The  Duncan  Church.  After  worshiping  in 
various  places  it  first  on  December  13,  1840,  held  services  in  a 
church  on  Thirteenth,  above  Market  street. 

The  history  of  this  building  is  connected  with  no  little  inter- 
est. Mrs.  Margaret  Duncan,  a  lady  born  in  Scotland,  being  in 
danger  of  shipwreck  as  she  returned  from  a  visit  to  her  native  land, 
vowed  that  if  the  Lord  would  spare  her  life  and  give  her  the  means 
she  would  for  his  glory  erect  a  church.  Her  prayer  in  both  re- 
spects was  heard,  the  building  was  erected,  and,  after  an  amicable 
settlement  of  a  contention  with  a  congregation  of  a  sister  denomi- 
nation touching  its  ownership,  it  was  delivered  up,  in  accordance 
with  the  desire  of  the  lady  donor,  to  the  First  Associate  Reformed 
congregation.  The  present  elegant  building  on  Race  street  was 
occupied  by  the  congregation  on  September  6,  1855. 


12  SICVICNTII    I'NlTKn    rRKSHYTKlUAN    CIIIRCII. 

THIRD  UNITi:i)  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

This  was  formerly  the  Second  Associate  conj^rcgation,  and 
historical  accounts  usually  say  it  was  organized  about  1837 ;  but 
by  consulting  the  original  manuscript  minutes  of  the  Associate 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  the  writer  is  able  to  give  the  exact 
date.  At  a  meeting  of  this  Presbytery,  held  in  Pittsburg  May  30, 
1837.  the  petition  of  a-  committee  of  the  First  Associate  Church, 
Philadelphia,  for  the  organization  of  a  second  congregation  was 
granted,  and  Pastor  William  Easton,  according  to  appointment, 
reported  September  14.  1837,  to  Presbytery  that  he  had  organized 
the  congregation,  presided  in  the  moderation  of  a  call,  which  was 
made  out  for  Joseph  Tate  Cooper.  Mr.  Cooper  was  ordained 
and  installed  over  the  congregation  September  25,  1839. 

The  noted  Doctor  Alexander  T.  ]McGill,  afterward  Professor 
in  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  was  stated  supply  of  the  con- 
gregation in  the  years  1837-8.  Those  following  Pastor  Cooper 
have  been  :  J.  C.  Wilson,  1872-5  ;  S.  G.  Fitzgerald,  1876 — . 

The  present  house  of  worship  of  this  congregation  is  a  brick 
building  situated  on  Front  above  Jefiferson  street,  and  previous  to 
the  congregation's  removal  to  this  place  it  worshiped  in  a  small 
church  building  on  Franklin  street,  near  Green, 

FOURTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 

This  was  the  Second  Associate  Reformed  Congregation,  and 
was  organized  August  24,  1844,  through  the  efforts  of  a  band 
of  workers  from  the  first  congregation.  The  pastors  have  been  : 
J.  B.  Scouller.  1844-6;  Andrew  Bower,  1847-51;  R.  W.  Oliver. 
1853-4;  George  C.  Arnold,  1855-63;  D.  M.  Gordon,  1864-7;  ^^  •  ^■ 
Jackson,  1868-78;  A.  Crawford,  1879-83;  J.  M.  Farrar,  1884-90; 
J.  T.  Chalmers,  1891-5;  J.  C.  Scouller,  1896—. 

The  first  church  edifice  occupied  by  the  congregation  was  a 
plain  building  on  the  north  side  of  Lombard,  west  of  Nineteenth 
street,  ther  the  ornate  brownstone  edifice  at  Nineteenth  and  Fitz- 
water  streets,  where  the  congregation  is  at  present  housed. 

FIFTH  UXITFD  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 

This  was  kncjwn  in  1858  as  the  'jhird  Associate  Reformed 
Congregation,  and  was  organized  about  March,  1848,  in  the  region 
of  Fairmount,  the  two  first  elders  being  furnished  by  the  First  As- 
sociate Reformed  Congregation.  The  pastors  have  been  as  fol- 
lows:  D.  T.  Carnahan.  1848-9;  J.  L.  l''airley.  1850-2;  Robert  Arm- 


ske;tch  of  congregations  in  Philadelphia.  13 

strong,  1853-60;  Thomas  H.  Hanna,  1862-7;  Alexander  Calhoun, 
1868-73;  S.  G.  Fitzgerald,  1874-5;  T.  M.  Watson,  1876-7;  J.  H. 
Wright,  1879-80;  I.  T.  Wright,  1882-8;  N.  L.  Heidger,  1891-5; 
J.  G.  C.  Webster,  S.  S.  1897-1900;  J.  A.  Collins,  S.  S.,  1900-2 ;  W. 
J.  McMichael,  1902-3  ;  R.  W.  Burnside,  1903 — . 

The  place  of  worship  of  this  congregation  was  a  brick  church, 
corner  of  Twentieth  and  Hamilton  streets,  up  to  1902,  when  it 
entered  its  new  and  attractive  chapel,  corner  of  Fifty-sixth  street 
and  Wyalusing  avenue ;  the  old  edifice  having  been  sold  to  the  city 
of  Philadelphia 

KENSINGTON  ASSOCIATE    REFORMED    CONGREGA- 

.TION. 

At  this  point  we  feel  called  upon  to  notice  a  congregation 
which  although  not  now  on  our  roll  occupied  for  ten  years  the  at- 
tention of  the  Presbytery ;  this  is  what  was  formerly  known  under 
three  different  names,  as  the  Third,  Fourth  and  Kensington  As- 
sociate Reformed  Congregation ;  these  names  being  applied  at 
different  periods  of  its  history.  It  was  organized  in  Kensington 
November,  1844,  and  its  commodious  brick  building  was  on  the 
west  side  of  Frankford  road,  below  Master  street.  As  a  congre- 
gation it  had  its  ups  and  downs  and  its  changes  from  one  denom- 
ination to  another.  In  1846  it  united  with  the  Associate  Presbytery 
of  New  York  in  connection  with  the  Bullions  Synod,  and  again 
returned  to  the  Associated  Reformed  denomination,  April  4,  185.1. 
It  became  divided  in  1852,  the  majority  oarty  uniting  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  on  December  4,  1854,  the  minority  part, 
numbering  81  communicants,  which  remained  loyal  to  the  Asso- 
ciate Reformed  Church,  resolved  to  disband.  The  congregation 
in  185 1  before  the  division  had  loi  families  and  232  communicants. 
The  pastors  were  John  Chambers  Lyons,  1844-50;  Wm.  O.  John- 
stone, 1851-83.  The  aforementioned  majority  afterwards  became 
a  part  of  the  Union  Tabernacle  congregation,  of  which  Dr.  Robert 
Hunter  is  the  pastor. 

SIXTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 

This  was  the  Third  Associate  Congregation,  and  was  organ- 
ized in  1852  from  a  number  of  persons  living  in  the  western  part 
of  the  city  formerly  connected  with  the  Second  Associate  congre- 
gation. This  Sixth  congregation  was  often  styled  the  Women's 
Church,  because  largely  organized  by  a  band  of  devoted  Chris- 
tian ladies,  among  whom  were  Margaretta,  Eliza  and  Jane  Young, 


14  SICVICNTII    UMTIvD    PRESBYTKRIAX    CMt'RCII. 

with  Marp^arctta  Murphy  Cooper.  The  pastors  were  the  lamented 
Thomas  Ilanna  Bevcridjre,  1854-60 ;  J.  C.  Meloy.  1864-5;  H.  W. 
Torrciico,  1868-70;  J.  C.  Campbell.  1872-8.  In  1879  Presbytery 
ordered  the  congregation  to  be  dissolved  and  its  name  stricken 
from  the  roll;  which  action  was  carried  out  March  5,  1880.  The 
places  of  worshi])  of  the  congregation  were  a  hall  on  Race  street, 
west  of  Twelfth  ;  a  hall.  Fifteenth  and  Market  streets,  and  then  its 
own  neat  brick  building  Race  street,  west  of  Twenty-first.  At  the 
death  of  its  faithful  first  pastor  the  congregation  luuiibered  about 
100  comnumicants  and  had  he  been  spared  possibly  it  might  still 
have  been  on  our  roll. 
SEVENTH  UNITED  PRESBYT1;RL\N  CONGREGATION. 

This  was  formerly  known  as  the  Fourth  Associate  Congre- 
gation, and  was  at  first  composed  of  a  small  band  of  people  con- 
nected with  the  Second  and  Third  Associate  Congregations  of 
Philadelphia.  After  the  meeting  of  the  Associate  Synod  in  1854 
ministers  were  sent  for  some  months  to  labor  among  this  people, 
James  Price  being  among  the  last  of  these,  and  as  the  fruit  of  his 
labors  for  two  months  the  people  resolved  to  become  organized, 
which  was  effected  April  23,  1855. 

The  pastors  of  this  congregation  have  been  James  Price, 
stated  supply,  1855,  and  pastor.  1856-73;  J.  B.  W'hitten.  1875-82; 
D.  W.  Lusk',  1883-5 ;  ^I-  G.  Kyle,  1886—. 

The  places  of  worship  of  this  congregation  in  Frankford  have 
been :  The  Washington  Engine  House,  Lyceum,  old  Bap- 
tist Church,  corner  of  Penn  and  Church  streets,  which  was  first 
rented,  then  purchased;  Wright's  Institute,  liaird's  (small)  Hall; 
the  elegant  stone  church  corner  of  Franklin  and  Orthodox  streets, 
and  their  present  handsome  church,  corner  of  Leiper  and  Orthodox 
streets,  Frankford. 
EIGHTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 

This  congregation  arose  from  a  division  of  the  First  Asso- 
ciate Congregation  of  Philadelphia  in  1845.  The  party  which  at 
that  time  was  in  the  majority,  and  with  whom  the  pastor.  Mr. 
Webster,  sided,  maintained  that  they  were  the  First  Associate 
Congregation  of  Phfladelphia,  and  also  claimed  the  Walnut  Street 
Church  property,  which  they  retained  until  legally  compelled  t£) 
relinquish  it.  After  a  division,  suit  was  entered  by  the  minority 
for  this  property,  which  in  1851  was  decided  in  their  favor  by 
Judge  Rogers,  of  the  Sujireme  Court  of  Pennsylvania.  After  this 
decision,  Chauncey  Webster,  the  pastor,  and  F.  W.  McNaughton 


SKETCH    OPf    CONGREGATIONS    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  15 

formed  a  Presbytery  of  their  own,  termed  the  Associate  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Webster  in  1856  returned  to  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  original  Associate  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia. This  congregation  previous  to  the  union  was  known  as  the 
Shippen  Street  Congregation  of  Philadelphia.  After  the  decision 
of  the  civil  Court  touching  the  Walnut  street  place  of  worship, 
the  congregation  erected  a  building  on  Shippen  street,  near  Elev- 
enth, and  finally  built  their  present  beautiful  brownstone  edifice, 
corner  of  Fifteenth  and  Christian  streets.  The  pastors  of  the  con- 
gregation have  been  Chauncey  Webster,  1845-56;  William  Wilson 
Barr,  1859-94 ;  J.  H.  Webster,  1895 — . 

NORRIS  SQUARE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGRE- 
GATION. 

This  congregation,  formerly  known  as  the  Ninth  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  i860  from  a 
few  members,  chiefly  taken  from  the  Third  and  Seventh  (Frank- 
ford)  Congregations.  James  Crow  was  the  first,  and  still  con- 
tinues to  be  the  senior  pastor,  but  J.  Alvin  Orr  was  on  January  6, 
1902,  ordained  and  installed  as  co-pastor.  The  places  occupied 
by  this  people  for  mission.  Sabbath  school  purposes,  and  public 
worship  have  been  a  room  on  Second  street,  above  Columbia  ave- 
nue ;  the  public  school  house  on  American  street,  above  Columbia 
avenue ;  a  brick  chapel  erected  by  the  friends  of  this  mission  con- 
gregation on  Second  above  Norris  street;  and  on  April  13,  1873, 
the  congregation  entered  its  commodious  and  beautifully  situated 
church,  corner  Susquehanna  avenue  and  Hancock  street,  fronting 
on  Norris  Square. 

TENTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 

In  June,  i860,  it  was  proposed  in  the  Presbytery  that  a  mis- 
sion be  established  in  West  Philadelphia,  and  toward  the  close  of 
that  year  Pastors  Arnold,  Barr  and  Elder  Samuel  C.  Huey  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  explore  this  field.  At  the  subsequent 
meeting  of  Presbytery  the  committee  reported  favorably,  stating 
that  a  Mission  Sabbath  school  had  already  been  established  there 
with  166  scholars ;  that  eight  families  were  ready  to  enter  into  an 
organization ;  also  that  they  were  willing  to  pay  all  expenses  of  the 
mission  and  to  contribute  $100  annually  for  supply  of  preaching. 
The  work  was  so  carried  forward  that  on  May  12,  1863,  thirty 
persons  offered  to  pay  $250  a  year  towards  the  support  of  a  min- 
ister; finally,  on  November  26,  1863,  a  congregation  was  organ- 


16  SICVKNTII    UMTKI)    I'KKSliYTLiKIAN    ClILKCIl. 

ized.  The  jiastors  of  the  orp^anization  have  been  :  J.  M.  Hutchin- 
son, 1865-9;  S.  S.  White,  1871-6;  John  Teas.  1878 — .  Various 
places  of  worship  have  been  occupied  by  the  congregation  up  to  tlic 
opening  of  the  stone  ecHfice  which  is  one  of  the  liandsomest 
churches  of  our  denomination  in  this  city,  being  located  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Thirty-eighth  and  Hamilton  streets. 

NORTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 

This  in  numerical  order  would  be  our  eleventh  congregation. 
It  was  organized  in  1867,  but  mission  work  had  been  carried  on  for 
over  a  year  by  two  devoted  and  liberal  young  men,  the  Messrs, 
Robert  T.  and  James  A.  Elliott,  the  work  being  known  as  the 
North  Broad  Street  Mission.  Finally  the  beautiful  ground  on 
Master,  west  of  Fifteenth  street,  was  purchased,  on  which  was 
erected  an  unusually  attractive  chapel,  which  is  still  occupied  and 
much  admired  by  the  people  of  this  city.  The  pastors  of  the  con- 
gregation have  been:  Lafayette  Marks,  1867-8;  W.  S.  Owens, 
1869-71  ;  J.  R.  Kerr,  1872-5;  H.  J.  McDonald,  1878-81  ;  J.  Q.  A. 
McDowel,  1882-4;  Mason  W.  Pressly,  1886-9;  J.  C.  Hanna,  1891 ; 
James  B.  Lee,  1891-4;  William  M.  Anderson,  1895 — • 

TWELFTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 

James  Price,  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  the  first  and  present 
pastor  of  the  congregation,  began  the  exploration  of  the  field  in 
the  northeast  part  of  Kensington,  which  was  counted  at  that  time 
"among  the  lots,"  in  the  year  1881,  and  in  the  last  month  of  that 
year.  Public  worshi])  was  begun  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  January, 
1882,  in  an  old  store  room  at  Kensington  avenue  and  Hart  lane, 
with  a  tavern  on  each  of  the  three  other  corners.  This  congrega- 
tion arose  from  no  church  quarrel  or  members  set  apart  from 
another  congregation,  or  any  congregation  acting  the  {)art  of  a 
mother,  but  from  pure  missionary  eflfort. 

An  organization  was  effected  April  4,  1882.  with  16  members, 
and  in  the  year  following  lots  corner  of  Somerset  and  Ruth  streets 
were  purchased,  on  which  a  neat  stone  chapel  was  erected,  costing 
between  three  and  four  thousand  dollars.  This  building  in  1892, 
for  want  of  room,  had  to  be  enlarged  to  more  than  double  its  orig- 
inal size,  at  a  cost  of  over  two  thousand  dollars,  the  addition  being 
only  temporary  in  the  hope  of  a  new  church  soon  covering  the 
ground.  The  church  lots  originally  purchased  on  ground  rent  were 
paid  for  about  1890,  and  extra  ground  has  been  purchased  on 
two  occasions.    The  church  property,  which  is  entirely  free  of  debt, 


SKETCH    OF    COXGREGATIONS    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  17 

is  estimated  to  be  worth  nearly  twenty  thousand  dollars ;  although 
not  one  dollar  was  ever  received  from  the  Board  of  Church  Exten- 
sion ;  and  through  the  offerings  of  our  own  people  we  have  now 
nearly  four  thousand  dollars  secured  toward  a  new  church. 

FALLS  OF  SCHUYLKILL,  OR  THIRTEENTH,  UNITED 
PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 

This  congregation  was  formerly  in  connection  with  a  sister 
denomination  and  was  known  as  the  Sixth  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Congregation,  Falls  of  Schuylkill.  It  was  received  under  the  care 
for  our  Presbytery  September  28,  1885.  David  Collins  was  for 
a  considerable  time  its  stated  supply,  it  having  at  that  period  three, 
elders,  40  members  and  32  scholars  in  its  school.  On  April  3,  1888, 
Presbytery  disorganized  the  congregation  and  ordered  its  name  to 
be  removed  from  the  roll. 

THE  WEST,  OR  FOURTEENTH,  UNITED  PRESBYTER- 
IAN CONGREGATION. 

This  congregation  was  organized  September  26,  1892,  being 
largely  composed  of  members  from  the  Tenth  Church,  although 
in  a  short  time  many  of  these  ceased  to  be  members  of  the  new 
congregation ;  and  it  must  therefore  have  attained  its  present 
healthful  condition  through  faithful  missionary  work.  One  fea- 
ture of  this  congregation  worthy  of  notice  and  imitation  is  that  it 
has  never  sought  any  aid  from  any  board  of  the  Church,  although 
contributing  to  them  all.  Soon  after  its  organization  the  congrega- 
tion purchased  a  pretty  stone  chapel  corner  of  43d  and  Aspen 
streets.  The  first  and  present  pastor  of  the  congregation  is  Frank 
Getty,  1893. 

WHARTON  SQUARE,  OR  FIFTEENTH,  UNITED  PRES- 
BYTERIAN CONGREGATION. 

This  congregation  originated  from  some  missionary  work 
begim  by  some  of  the  members  of  and  under  the  direction  of  the 
Fourth  Congregation,  Philadelphia,  and  was  known  for  some  time 
as  the  South  West  Mission.  By  direction  of  Presbytery  it  was  or- 
ganized by  the  pastor  and  elders  of  the  Fourth  Church,  April  13. 
1894.  J.  P.  Sharp  was  the  first  stated  supply,  and  being  afterward 
called  as  pastor,  he  was  installed  March  i8,  1898.  After  meeting 
in  a  hall  the  congregation,  through  the  advice  and  by  the  aid  of  the- 
Board  of  Church  Extension,  purchased  ground. corner  of  Twenty- 


18  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

third  and  Wharton  streets,  on  which  the  present  chapel  was  erected 
which  fronts  on  Wharton  Square,  the  location  beinj^  a  most  desir- 
able one. 

FAIRHILL,  OR  SIXTEENTH,  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN 
CONGREGATION. 
In  May,  1896,  a  petition  came  before  Presbytery  from  thirty- 
one  persons  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  city,  asking  that  they  be 
organized  into  a  congregation.  The  matter  was  referred  to  a 
committee,  of  which  the  clerk,  James  Price,  was  chairman.  This 
committee  reported  at  a  subsequent  meeting  recommending  that 
the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  be  granted  ;  providing  that  their  place 
of  worship  be  located  at  least  six  squares  from  any  of  the  churches 
of  our  denomination.  Under  direction  of  this  same  committee  an 
organization  was  effected  June  16,  1896,  32  members  being  re- 
ceived. After  worshipping  in  a  number  of  places,  such  as  a  hall 
on  Fifth,  above  Somerset  street,  and  a  private  house  on  Mascher 
street,  they  erected  their  present  brick  chapel  corner  of  Front  and 
Tioga  streets.  E.  M.  ]\IcFadden,  received  from  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church,  was  the  first  stated  supply ;  James  N.  Knipe 
was  ne.xt  to  serve  in  that  position,  and  on  April  29,  1902,  he  was 
installed  as  pastor. 

DALES'  MEMORIAL,  OR  SEVENTEENTH  UNITED 
PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 
About  the  year  1897  a  band  of  young  people,  mostly  from  the 
Second  Congregation,  opened  a  Mission  Sabbath  school  in  the 
noithwest  part  of  the  city,  and  on  November  16,  1897,  some  1 14 
persons  connected  with  it  sent  a  request  to  Presbytery  for  the 
organization  of  a  congregation.  This  petition  was  granted  and  on 
December  2,  1897,  the  congregation  was  organized  at  which  time 
36  members  were  received  and  two  elders  elected.  Ground  for 
the  present  neat  stone  chapel  at  Thirty-second  and  Cumberland 
streets  was  broken  the  same  year.  W.  S.  Nevin,  now  pastor  of  the 
Cohocksink  Presbyterian  Church,  was  the  first  stated  supply ;  he 
was  followed  by  T.  B.  TurnbuU,  who,  on  June  25,  1900,  was  in- 
stalled as  pastor. 

SOUTH,  OR  EIGHTEENTH,  UNITED   PRESBYTERIAN 

CONGREGATION. 

On  April  4,  1899,  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  recognized 

approvingly  the  fact  that  the  Eighth  Congregation  had  been  foi 

some  time   carrying  on   a  mission   at    Seventeenth   and  Jackson 


SKETCH    OF    CONGREGATIONS    IN    PHILADEI.1'HIA.  19 

Streets.  On  November  22,  1899,  ^  congregation  was  organized 
there  with  fifteen  members,  over  which  a  provisional  session  was 
placed.  After  holding  services  in  a  hall  and  tent  the  congregation 
has  erected  a  chapel  on  its  ground  at  Seventeenth  and  Snyder  ave- 
nue. G.  M.  McKnight  has  so  far  been  the  only  stated  supply,  and 
for  the  better  carrying  on  his  work  in  the  mission  congregation, 
he  was  on  Oceober  i6,  1899,  ordained  as  a  gospel  minister. 

WOODLAND  AVENUE,  OR  NINETEENTH,  UNITED 
PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION. 
During  the  year  1901  William  Weir,  who  had  been  received  as 
minister  from  Chartiers  Presbytery,  began  mission  work,  holding 
services  in  his  own  dwelling  house,  1305  Frazier  terrace,  West 
Philadelphia.  In  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  missionary 
and  the  band  laboring  with  him  a  congregation  was  organized  there 
on  June  5,  1902.  Mr.  Weir,  the  originator  of  the  Mission,  is  still 
its  stated  supply.  The  congregation  is  now  worshiping  in  its  neat 
frame  chapel  on  Woodland  avenue. 

OAK  PARK,  OR  TWENTIETH,  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN 
CONGREGATION. 
It  being  found  that  a  number  of  families  connected  with  our 
various  congregations  had  moved  into  the  region  of  Southwest 
Philadelphia  it  was  felt  by  the  Presbytery  that  a  mission  field  was 
there  presented.  So  about  the  summer  of  1903  a  mission  was 
opened,  preaching  services  being  held  in  a  tent  at  Fifty-second 
street  and  Larchwood  avenue.  The  following  year  the  Presby- 
tery, through  special  offerings,  erected  a  frame  chapel  at  N.  W. 
corner  of  Fifty-first  and  Pine  streets,  on  a  lot  secured  through  the 
Board  of  Church  Extension,  which  is  now  occupied.  On  October 
7,  1904,  a  congregation,  to  be  known  as  the  Oak  Park  Church, 
was  organized  with  49  members,  since  which  large  accessions  have 
been  received.    Rev.  George  E.  Raitt  is  the  stated  supply. 


ItOUI'JK'r     T.     T.VVi.OK 


IHistor^  of  the  Seventh  XHniteb 
Ipresb^gtedan  ConGregation,  jfrank=* 
fotbt   pbilabelpbia,   Pennsylvania 


CHAPTER  I. 


From  the   Origin  of  the  Mission  to  the  Ordination   of  James 
Price,  the  First  Pastor,  1853-56. 

The  historical  record  of  a  Christian  congregation  is  more  than 
a  bare  narrative  of  the  faith  and  doings  of  a  band  of  the  lovers 
of  truth  ;  it  includes  the  dealings  of  their  heavenly  guide  with  them, 
showing  how  he  emancipated  them  from  sin's  slavery,  formed 
them  into  a  united  people  for  himself ;  and  led  them  as  an  organ- 
ization through  all  the  changing  years  of  their  history.  The  con- 
gregation whose  life  we  propose  to  sketch  is  to-day  a  broad,  flow- 
ing stream,  yielding  delights  to  those  who  sail  over  its  bosom. 
But  we  propose  to  go  back  half  a  century  and  trace  it  as  the  slender 
brook  over  which  a  traveler  might  step.  We  are  about  to  ask  the 
vanished  years  of  the  last  half  of  the  previous  century  to  take 
the  witness  stand  and  tell  us  what  they  know  of  the  childhood  of 
this  congregation. 

In  1852*  Robert  McBride,  an  elder  in  the  Second  Associate 
Congregation,  Philadelphia,  moved  his  family  to  Frankford,  Phil- 
adelphia, and  in  the  following  year  his  father,  Thomas  McBride, 
also  in  former  years  an  elder  in  the  same  congregation,  followed 
and  located  his  cotton  factory  at  Adams  and  Wingohocking 
streets.  Quite  a  number  of  Mr.  Thomas  McBride's  employees 
who  had  labored  for  him  in  his  Kensington  mill,  followed  and  were 
employed  by  him  in  Frankford,  and  having  been  members  of 
Second  Associate  Church,  Philadelphia,  of  which  Dr.  Joseph  T. 

*  Robert  T.  Taylor,  editor  of  "Monthly  Messenger,"  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  a  few  early  items. 


22  SEVKNTII    UN'ITKD    PRlvSBVTKKIAN    CIIIKCII.  1><53 

Cooper  was  pastor,  they  with  the  above  two  famihes  and  a  few 
other  residents  may  be  said  to  have  laid  the  foundation  of  tlic 
new  mission. 

Frankford,  throu{2^h  the  consolidation  of  I'liiladelphia,  had 
now  become  the  Twenty-third  ward  of  the  city,  but  at  the  time  of 
which  we  write  it  still  retained  many  of  the  features  of  an  ancient 
borough,  severed  from  the  city  proper  by  some  four  miles  of  green 
fields  and  dusty  roads,  over  which  the  traveler  was  carried  in  a 
two-horse  stage  to  Second  and  Arch  streets  at  the  rapid  transit 
rate  of  one  hour,  Frankford  at  that  time  being  said  to  contain 
about  nine  thousand  inhabitants. 

During  1853  Associate  Presbyterian  public  worship  services 
began  to  be  occasionally  held  in  Frankford,  at  first  in  the  Wash- 
ington Fire  Engine  House,  and  afterward  in  the  rented  Lyceum, 
adjoining,  on  Main,  below  Orthodox  street ;  and  it  is  said  that  Rev. 
Thomas  B.  Hanna  was  the  first  minister  of  our  denomination  to 
preach  in  Frankford. 

In  1854  the  Baptist  congregation  of  Frankford  erected  a  new 
church,  corner  of  Paul  and  Unity  streets,  and  rentetl  their  building 
and  ground,  corner  of  Pme  and  Edward,  afterwanl  Church  and 
Penn  streets,  the  ground  measuring  >n  Church  street  70  feet  and 
on  Penn  in.  The  Associate  Prcsbvienan  people— now  a  mission 
band — thought  it  a  fine  opportunity  to  secure  the  old  building  and 
lot,  although  in  a  short  time  they  found  it  was  the  worst  move 
they  could  have  made.  The  property  was  at  first  rented  by  the  mis- 
sion, and  in  the  spring  of  1856  was  purchased  for  $irxx). 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Associate  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
May  23,  1854,  the  following  minute  occurs:  "A  petition  for  supply 
of  preaching  from  certain  persons  in  Frankford  was  received,  and 
the  request  ordered  to  be  presented  to  Synod."  In  the  report  of 
this  same  Presbytery  to  the  Ass(x:iate  Synod,  which  met  at  Albany. 
N.  Y.,  May,  1854,  there  is  the  following  statement :  "Certain  mem- 
bers of  the  Second  Associate  congregation  residing  in  Frankford, 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  have  petitioned  for  regular  supply  of 
preaching,  and  have  raised  for  this  purpose,  $133.50.  They  ofTer 
also  to  pay  for  the  boarding  of  their  supply." 

The  Synod  regarded  this  ])etition  favorably,  appropriating 
from  its  Home  Fund  $300  to  the  new  mission  for  the  coming  year, 
and  appointing  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Thompson,  pastor  of  the  Hickory 
Congregation,  Washington  County,  Pa  ,  to  supply  the  pulpit  for 
four  months,  beginning  with  June — the  Presbytery  of  Chartiers  to 


lilOV.     .TOpiEI'tt     1-t.     TIIOMI'SON' 


1854  IJARLY    HISTORY    AS    A    MISSION.  23 

supply  his  pulpit  during  his  absence.  Mr.  Thompson  began  his 
labors  in  Frankford  most  probably  the  first  Sabbath  of  June,  1854. 
After  filling  about  half  his  appointment  he  was  called  away  to 
nurse  his  sick  brother,  a  licentiate,  who  had  been  preaching  at  Wil- 
kinsonville,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  until  the  death  of  his  rela- 
tive, November  12,  1854.  Mr.  Joseph  R.  Thompson  was  an  earn- 
est, eloquent  preacher,  very  cheerful,  sociable  and  a  favorite  wher- 
ever he  labored. 

For  the  next  ten  months  the  Frankford  pulpit  was  supplied 
by  young  licentiates  of  the  Associate  Church.  Among  those  ap- 
pointed to  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  by  the  Synod  of  1854 
were  the  following:  Messrs.  J.  H.  Andrew,  A.  Gordon,  S.  F. 
Farmer,  D.  H.  Goodwillie,  Gilbert  Small,  D.  K.  Duff,  J.  McKira- 
han,  A.  A.  Rogers,  J.  B.  Lee.  A  number  of  these  we  know  have 
preached  in  Frankford,  while  others  may  have  exchanged  with 
their  fellow  licentiates  to  labor  in  other  Presbyteries';  and  it  must 
have  been  in  this  latter  way  that  the  writer  was  brought  into  the 
Philadelphia  Presbytery. 

We  will  now  suppose  that  we  have  come  down  to  the  begin- 
ning of  the  month  of  February,  1855,  when  the  writer  began  his 
labors  in  Frankford.  The  classical  education  of  James  Price  was 
begun  at  Duquesne  College,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  of  which  the  noted 
Dr.  Robert  Bruce  was  founder  and  president,  and  one  of  the 
members  of  whose  faculty  was  that  eminent  classical  scholar,  Pro- 
fessor Grierson.  Shortly  after  the  suspension  of  this  institution 
he  entered  the  junior  class  of  Franklin  College,  New  Athens,  Har- 
rison County,  Ohio,  and  was  graduated  in  185 1.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Associate 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Canonsburgh,  Pa.,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
full  three  years'  course  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  October  3,  1854, 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Chartiers,  at  Washington,   Pa. 

Mr.  Price's  appointments  by  the  Synod  in  1854  were  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Cambridge  four  months,  December  to  March ;  and 
to  Albany  Presbytery  two  month,  April  and  May ;  but,  as  above, 
he  likely  exchanged  with  some  brother.  How  small  a  thing  some- 
times changes  the  course  of  one's  life.  The  writer  began  his  labors 
in  the  Frankford  Mission  the  first  Sabbath  of  February,  1855, 
preaching  his  first  sermon  from  John  XV,  14 :  "Ye  are  my  friends 
if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command  you,"  in  the  old  Baptist  meeting 
house,  corner  of  Penn  and  Church  streets. 

This  old  Baptist  Church  wa'i  a  square  stone  building,  say  45 


24:  SKVIJNTH    UMTICU    rKKSBYTERIAN    CIirKCII.  1866 

feet  each  way.  built  in  the  year  1807.  A  gallery  ran  around  the 
three  sides  and  there  was  no  vestibule.  The  pulpit  platform  was 
some  eight  or  nine  risers  above  the  floor,  and  behind  the  preacher's 
head  were  two  small  windows  which  in  winter  gave  more  ventila- 
tion than  was  necessary,  and  on  a  summer  Sal)bath  afternoon  a 
superabundance  of  sunshine  and  heat.  The  old  faded  green  cotton 
shades  of  the  two  windows  were  in  after  years  through  a  tasty 
lady  exchanged  for  buff  linen  ones,  and  Mr.  Thomas  McHride,  in 
his  kindness,  placed  warm  rugs  on  the  faded  oilcloth  of  the  pulpit 
floor  to  keep  the  preacher's  feet  from  freezing. 

On  a  windy  day  the  speaker  had  often  difificulty  in  being  heard, 
since  a  score  of  windows  on  two  stories  set  up  a  concert  equal  to 
that  of  a  country  orchestra.  The  evening  audiences  were  cheered 
by  light  from  two  oil  chandeliers  whose  leaky  reservoirs  were 
far  from  occasionally  improving  ladies'  costly  wraps  and  gentle- 
men's new  dress  suits.  Two  large  sheet  iron  cylinder  stoves, 
whose  dusty  pipes  rose  some  twenty  feet  and  then  entered  the 
gallery  flues,  furnished  the  heat,  together  with  an  occasional,  but 
too  liberal  a  quantity  of  smoke.  The  bases  of  these  shining  heat- 
ers rested  on  square  wood  boxes  placed  in  the  aisles  and  filled  with 
sand,  affording  conveniences  for  gentlemen  who  used  tobacco.  The 
pews  were  such  as  were  models  in  the  days  of  our  grandfathers, 
the  backs  being  straight,  as  also  very  high,  and  the  seats  having 
never  been  introduced  to  a  cushion. 

On  the  south  and  west  sides  of  the  edifice  was  a  graveyard, 
where  slept  generations  of  pious  Baptists  in  the  hope  of  a  glorious 
resurrection,  and  the  trees  which  shaded  the  tombs  of  these  de- 
parted ones  bent  over  the  old  audience  room  where  they  had  wor- 
shiped. North  of  the  church  was  a  lawn,  covered  with  grass,  ele- 
vated in  some  parts  eight  feet  above  the  street,  which  at  first  was 
without  a  stone  wall,  and  whose  yielding  clay  during  a  time  of  rain 
made  bad  walking  on  the  unpaved  sidewalks.  The  shingle  roof  of 
the  old  church  may  once  have  been  rainproof,  but  had  ceased  many 
a  day  long  ago  to  make  any  such  claims.  Some  of  the  more  aged 
people  of  the  mission  thought  this  old  church  and  grounds  quite 
charming,  and  just  the  place  that  suited  present  circumstances, 
because  it  reminded  them  of  the  country  meeting  houses  of  their 
youthful  days. 

And  the  writer  is  bound  to  say  that  notwithstanding  the  draw- 
backs many  a  happy  day  was  spent  by  minister  and  i)eople  on  the 
Old  Baptist  Hill,  and  the  Judgment  Day  may  show  that  many  a 


1855  EARLY    HISTORY    AS    A    MISSION.  25 

soul  was  bom  there.  It  was  in  this  quaint  old  country-like  church, 
and  amid  these  surroundings  that  the  writer,  then  a  young  licen- 
tiate with  decent  black  suit,  folding  broad  linen  collar  and  black 
necktie  preached  in  a  trembling  manner  his  first  sermon  to  an 
audience  of  about  forty-five  persons,  who  gave  the  very  closest 
attention.  The  people,  now  in  what  might  be  termed  their  own 
church  home,  and  with  one  to  lead  in  Sabbath  services,  to  visit 
them  in  their  homes  and  care  for  the  sick  and  careless,  began  to 
feel  both  encouraged  and  happy. 

The  writer  had  urged  in  pulpit  and  home  that  the  work  of  the 
Mission  go  forward,  and  that  it  be  made  a  permanent  one  by  es- 
tablishing a  congregation.  The  following  petition  will  show  that 
these  appeals  were  not  without  effect  :* 

Rev.  Mr.  Price: 

Sir:  We,  the  undersigned,  respectfully  request  you  to  call  a 
meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  Fourth  Associate  Pres- 
byterian Church,  at  the  late  borough  of  Frankford,  now  the  Twen- 
ty-third ward,  Philadelphia.  Your  early  compliance  with  the  above 
will  give  us  much  pleasure.  With  respect  and  esteem. 
March  5th,  1855.  We  remain  yours,  etc., 

Joseph  Mitchell,  John  Shaw, 

William  Smiley,  Robert  McClintock, 

Robert  McBride,  Martin  Shaw, 

Robert  Dunlap,  Wm.  John  McDuffy, 

Thomas  McBride,  Robert  Chambers, 

James  Woodside,  William  McClintock, 

John  Haddock,  David  Twigg, 

William  Walker,  Sarah  Lackey, 

Rachel  Charlton,  William  Taylor, 

Andrew  Smiley,  John  Twigg. 

To  strengthen  the  determination  of  the  people  in  their  peti- 
tion, Mr.  Price,  on  the  second  Sabbath  of  March,  1855,  preached 
a  discourse  based  on  Esther  iv,  14:  "And  who  knoweth  whether 
thou  art  come  to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time  as  this."  In  the 
application  the  speaker  made  the  following  plea : 

"I  shall  ask  for  no  more  striking  illustration  than  the  provi- 
dence which  has  placed  you,  a  number  of  the  devoted  friends  of 
Christ,  in  this  part  of  the  great  metropolis  of  the  State.  Nay,  have 
you  not  the  clearest  evidence  that  God  is  saying  to  you  every  time 

*  Robert  T.  Taylor's  Historical  Sketch. 


26  SEVENTH    UMTKD    I'RESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1855 

you  enter  these  doors :  'Here  will  I  record  my  name.'  Why,  then, 
in  hope  of  promised  blessing,  shall  you  not  here  lay  the  foundation 
of  another  branch  of  Zion  and  unfurl  the  banner  of  your  faith  to 
the  world  ?" 

At  the  time  of  supplying  the  pulpit  of  the  Frankford  Mission, 
the  writer,  not  being  an  ordained  minister,  could  not  have  acted  in 
organizing  the  congregation  ;  but  most  likely,  before  departing  for 
New  York,  he  did,  according  to  the  formal  request  of  the  people, 
call  a  congregational  meeting  to  seek  from  Presbytery  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  minister  for  this  purpose.  Hence  we  find  that  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  Presbytery,  held  Ajjril  lo,  1855,  the 
following  action  was  taken :  "A  verbal  petition  was  presented  by 
certain  persons  in  Frankford,  in  the  northern  part  of  this  city, 
asking  for  an  organization,  and  for  the  dispensation  of  the  Lord's 
supper.  Presbytery  agreed  to  grant  their  petition  ;  and  Rev.  D.  W. 
French  was  appointed  to  dispense  the  supper  there  on  the  fourth 
Sabbath  of  April ;  to  attend  to  the  previous  duties,  and  afterward, 
in  connection  with  Rev.  Dr.  Cooper,  to  organize  the  congregation." 

The  directions  of  Presbytery  and  the  wishes  of  the  people  of 
Frankford  would  appear  to  have  been  promptly  complied  with, 
because  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held  in  Baltimore,  April  26, 
1855  "Rev.  Dr.  Cooper  reported  that,  according  to  appointment 
he  had.  on  the  23d  instant,  organized  a  congregation  of  26  mem- 
bers in  the  old  district  of  Frankford,  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
city  of  I'hiladelphia  to  be  called  'The  Fourth  Associate  Congrega- 
tion of  Philadelphia.'  "  The  new  members  entering  the  organiza- 
tion and  their  church  connection  are  as  follows  : 

From  the  Third  Associate  Congregation,  Philadelphia,  Rev. 
Thos.  H.  Beveridge,  Pastor: 

Thomas  McBride,  Sr.,  Agnes  McBride. 

Mary  Ann  McBride. 

From  the  Second  Associate  Congregation,  Philadelphia,  Rev. 
J.  T.  Cooper,  D.  !).,  Pastor: 

James  Woodside,  Robert  Chambers, 

Eliza  Woodside,  Margaret  Chambers. 

Martha  McBride,  Fannie  Twiggs, 

Nancy  McBride,  Mrs.  Horn, 

Thomas  McBride.  Henry  Ross, 

Mary  Jane  McBride,  Louisa  Morrison. 

Robert  McBride,  William  Walker, 

Sarah  Lackey,  Jane  Walker, 

Margaret  Patton,  Mrs.  Smiley, 


1856  EARLY    HISTORY    AS    A    MISSION.  27 

The  previous  church  connection  of  the  following  is  unknown, 
and  they  were  likely  received  on  profession  of  their  faith  : 

Mr.  McClintock,  Martin  Shaw, 

Joseph  Mitchell,  Mrs.  Shaw, 

Mrs.  Linn. 

In  the  report  of  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  to  the  Associate 
Synod,  which  met  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  May  23,  1855,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing: "The  prospects  of  the  mission  station  in  the  old 
district  of  Frankford  are  quite  encouraging.  We  will 
need  for  the  Fourth  Congregation  of  Philadelphia  the 
same  amount  usually  given  the  second  year,  $250."  In 
the  minutes  of  the  same  Synod,  paper  No.  21  is  recorded  thus: 
"A  petition  from  the  Fourth  Congregation  of  Philadelphia  praying 
that  Mr.  Price  may  be  appointed  to  supply  them  for  one  year.  Re- 
ferred to  the  Board  of  Home  Missions."  The  Synod  granted  both 
these  requests  appropriating  to  the  Frankford  Congregation  $250, 
and  appointing  Mr.  Price  to  fill  the  pulpit  for  one  year. 

The  person  thus  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Congregation  was 
fulfilling  an  appointment  in  the  Albany  Presbytery,  at  Wilkinson- 
ville,  Mass.,  when  he  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Robert  McBride, 
asking  him  to  come  to  Frankford  second  Sabbath  of  June.  Mr. 
Price  immediately  started  for  Philadelphia,  beginning  his  labor  in 
the  Fourth  Church  the  third  Sabbath  of  June,  1855,  ^^^  preach- 
ing in  the  forenoon  from  Psalm  Ixxi,  9,  "Cast  me  not  off,  etc." 
On  the  following  Sabbath  the  young  and  inexperienced  licentiate 
undertook  the  difficult  task  of  expounding  in  the  Sabbath  morning 
service  the  Book  of  Acts,  but  which,  through  absence,  collecting 
for  the  old  church  building  during  the  years  1856  and  1857,  and 
for  the  new  one  from  the  beginning  of  1863,  was  frequently  inter- 
rupted ;  and  was  not  finished  until  the  last  Sabbath  of  July,  1865, 
thus  covering  a  period  of  over  ten  years. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  Friday,  Aug- 
ust 17,  1855,  the  minutes  have  this  refernce  to  the  preacher  in  the 
Frankford  Church :  "A  call  on  Mr.  James  Price,  a  probationer  un- 
der our  care,  was  laid  on  the  table,  from  the  congregation  of  Johns- 
town, N.  Y."  Mr.  Price  requested  until  the  meeting  of  Synod  to 
give  his  decision. 

The  following  minute  of  the  Session  of  the  Fourth  Church 
is  the  first  session  record  of  the  congregation:  "March  21,  1856 — 


28  SKVKNTII    UNITF:I)    rRKSIlYTKRlAN    ClIL'Kfll.  I  .S56 

After  sermon  this  evcnini^  by  Rev.  Francis  Church.  Mr.  Robert 
Chambers  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  ruling  elder  in  this  congre- 
gation ;  Mr.  Robert  McBride  was  also  installed  at  the  same  time 
in  the  same  office.  Mr.  Thomas  Mcliridc  had  also  been  chosen, 
but  declined  to  serve." 

Xow  that  the  organization  of  the  congregation  had  been  com- 
pleted by  the  election  and  installation  of  a  bench  of  ciders,  the 
people  began  to  think  of  still  further  perfecting  their  organization 
by  procuring  a  fixed  pastor.  Hence,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presby- 
tery, held  in  the  Second  Church,  May  i6,  1856,  the  minutes  state : 
"Papers  being  called  for,  a  petition  was  presented  from  the  Fourth 
Congregation  of  Philadelphia,  asking  for  a  moderation.  The  peti- 
tion was  granted,  and  Mr.  Church  was  appointed  to  preach  there 
this  evening  and  moderate  in  a  call." 

According  to  appointment,  Mr.  Church  preached  in  the 
Fourth  Church  Friday  evening,  May  16,  1856.  and  presided  in 
the  selection  of  a  minister.  Mr.  Taylor,  in  his  sketch,  says :  "Two 
names  were  mentioned  as  suitable  persons  to  whom  to  extend  the 
call,  viz. :  James  Price  and  Gilbert  Small,  but  Mr.  Price  receiving 
the  larger  number  of  votes  was  declared  elected,  the  election  after- 
ward being  made  unanimous  by  the  congregation." 

The  call  is  dated  May  16,  1856,  and  is  signed  by  the  under- 
mentioned names : 

Robert  McBride,  Agnes  McBride, 

James  Woodside,  Robert  Chambers, 

Mary  Ann  Graham,  Martin  Shaw, 

Eliza  Woodside,  Elizabeth  Shaw, 

Mary  Chambers,  Louisa  Morrison, 

Margaret  Chambers,  Sarah  Morrison, 

Thomas  McBride,  Sr.,  Mary  Wood, 

Mary  J.  McBride,  Josephine  Wood, 

Nancy  McBride,  Sarah  Lackey, 

Martha  McBride,  William  Walker, 

Thomas  Mcl'.ride,  Matilda   Walker. 

Agnes  McBride,   Sr.,  Jane  Walker, 

Mary  A.  McBride,  Jane  Shuttlcworth, 
Margaret  Patton, 

The  undersigned  adherents  of  the  congregation  hereby  sub- 
scribe to  the  aforesaid  call : 


1856  DARI^Y    HISTORY    AS    A    MISSION.  29 

W.  Taylor,  Robert  Dunlap. 

Jane  Taylor,  Letitia  Galbraith, 

Joseph  McBride,  Ann  Jane  Smiley, 

Elizabeth  McBride,  Mary  Wood, 

Robert  Chambers,  Jr.,  Williaf  McClintock, 

Anna  Smith,  Robert  McClintock, 

Richard  H.  Lackey,  Rachel  Charlton, 

Catherine  Crawford,  Margaret  F.  Ross. 

The  report  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  to  the  Associate 
Synod,  which  met  in  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  May  21,  1856,  makes 
the  following  statement  touching  the  Frankford  Church,  Phil- 
adelphia: "The  Fourth  Congregation,  our  latest  enterprise,  has 
enjoyed  the  constant  labors  of  Mr.  James  Price  during  the  year, 
and  has,  under  the  circumstances,  met  with  encouraging  success, 
although  the  severity  of  the  winter  and  the  unfavorable  location 
of  the  building  in  which  they  w^orship  have  operated  to  their  dis- 
advantage. They  have  purchased  the  house  and  lot  which  thev 
have  been  occupying,  and  they  expect  by  an  expenditure  of  some 
$1500  to  repair  the  house  and  grounds  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
make  them  very  desirable. 

"They  have  made  out  a  call  for  Mr.  Price,  which  has  been 
sustained,  and  is  herewith  transmitted  to  Synod  for  presentation. 
The  amount  which,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Board,  would  be 
appropriated  to  them  for  the  ensuing  year  is  $200.  But,  as  they 
have  now  undertaken  to  support  a  pastor  and  have  purchased  a 
house  and  lot  w4iich  will  cost  them  over  $3000,  and  as  they  are 
few  and  generally  poor ;  and  as  it  is  very  important  that  this  en- 
terprise should  be  well  sustained  during  the  coming  year,  we  ask 
that  they  receive  $300.  We  do  this  with  more  freedom,  as  we  be- 
lieve no  congregation  in  our  church,  in  proportion  to  its  size 
and  strength,  has  contributed  more  than  they  to  the  funds  of  the 
Synod." 

On  Saturday,  May  24,  1856,  the  Associate  Synod,  then  in  ses- 
sion in  Allegheny,  Pa.,  presented  to  James  Price  competing  calls 
from  the  Fourth  Congregation,  Philadelphia,  and  the  congregation 
of  Johnstown,  N.  Y.  The  call  of  the  Fourth  Church,  Philadelphia, 
was  accepted. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  was  held 
in  the  First  Church,  July  29,  1856,  and  the  court  proceeded  to  hear 
the  trials  of  Mr.  Price.  Having  passed  through  the  usual  examina- 
tion with  entire  satisfaction,  and  all  his  trials  being  approved,  it 


30  SIvVKNTII    UNiTKl)    I'KKSIIVTKKIAN    ClILUfl!.  1^56 

was  resolved  to  meet  in  the  Fourth  Church.  Philadelphia,  on 
Thursday,  September  4,  1856,  for  his  ordination  and  installation, 
Rev.  Francis  Church  to  preach  the  sermon  ;  Dr.  J.  T.  Cooper  to 
give  the  charge  to  the  pastor ;  and  Rev.  Chauncey  Webster  the 
charge  to  the  people ;  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Beveridge  to  serve  in 
the  room  of  any  one  of  these  persons  who  may  fail  to  fulfill 
his  appointment. 

The  following  minute  of  the  Associate  Presbytery  is  worthy  to 
be  inserted  in  its  entirety  : 

'P'ourth  Associate  Church.  Frank  ford.  Philada. 
"September  4.   1856. 

"Presbytery  met  according  to  appointment  and  was  opened 
with  prayer  by  Dr.  Cooper.  Moderator.  Members  present  Revs. 
Dr.  Cooper  and  Messrs.  Church,  Webster  and  Beveridge.  minis- 
ters, and  Robert  McBride  and  William  Anderson,  ruling  elders. 

"The  object  of  the  meeting  being  the  ordination  and  installa- 
tion of  Mr.  James  Price,  Mr.  Beveridge  was  appointed  to  read  the 
edict  to  the  congregation.  This  being  done  and  no  objections 
being  made,  the  Presbytery  (previously  constituted  in  the  gallery) 
repaired  to  the  body  of  the  church  and  proceeded  in  the  usual 
manner  to  ordain  Mr.  James  Price  to  the  office  of  the  holy  minis- 
try, and  to  install  him  as  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Congregation  of 
Philadelphia.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Francis  Church  ; 
the  questions  were  proposed  by  Mr.  Ikveridge ;  the  ordaining 
prayer  was  offered  and  the  charge  to  the  pastor  delivered  by  Dr. 
Cooper,  and  the  charge  to  the  people  by  Mr.  Webster. 

"The  name  of  Rev.  James  Price  was  then,  on  motion,  added 
to  the  roll  of  Presbytery. 

"Adjourned.     Closed  with  prayer  by  the  Moderator. 

"Thomas  II.  Beveridge.  P.  C." 

The  writer  has  a  distinct  recollection  of  an  unusual  auditor 
once  entering  the  church  during  service,  and  of  the  difficulty 
which  some  member  encountered  in  inducing  him  to  seek  more 
suitable  quarters ;  but  he  had  forgotten  to  connect  it  with  the  or- 
dination.* 

*"An  amu.sing  incident  connected  with  this  installation  might  not 
be  out  of  place.  As  the  weather  was  warm  the  doors  were  left  open, 
and  a  goat  coming  along,  apparently  thinking  his  services  might  be 
needed  (mistaking  the  installation  for  one  in  a  secret  society)."  walked 
in  and  went  up-stairs  to  the  gallery  which  ran  across  the  end  of  the 
clnirch,  and.  placing  his  forefeet  on  the  railing,  in  a  voice  peculiar  to 
the  goat  tribe,  offered  his  services.  Mr.  Thomas  McBride  had  diffi- 
culty to  induce  the  animal  to  leave." — R.  T.  Taylor's  Sketch.  \Vc  are 
sorry  that  this  anecdote  closes  Mr.  Taylor's  short  history. 


.lAMios   rrjTfio.    i-.-.o 


1856  EARLY    HISTORY    AS    A    MISSION.  31 

In  1856  the  Synod's  statistical  tables  give  the  Fourth  Church 
the  following  notice:  Families,  19;  members,  30;  baptisms,  5, 
increase,  8 ;  decrease,  4 ;  mission  offering,  $44.40,  the  largest  aver- 
age offering  in  the  Presbytery  with  one  exception.  The  report  of 
the  congregation's  treasurer,  R.  H.  Lackey,  from  October,  i,  1855, 
to  December  31,  1856,  is  as  f ololws  :  Receipts — Pew  rents, 
$264.25  ;  collections,  $94.27  ;  total,  $358.52.  Expenditures — Bal- 
ance due  treasurer,  $11.16;  paid  sexton,  $49.00;  sundries,  $31.80; 
rent,  $106.08;  pastor,  $130.00;  repairing  stoves,  $7.00;  balance  in 
hand,  $23.48.     Total,  $358.52. 


CHAPTER  II. 

From  the  Settlement  of  the  First  Pastor  to  the  Union  of  1858. 

1856-1858. 

It  has  already  been  intimated  that  both  the  old  church  building 
and  grounds  were  in  a  very  dilapidated  condition ;  the  former  need- 
ed repairs  and  the  latter  demanded  that  the  street  walk  be  curbed 
and  paved,  and  that  the  yielding  banks  of  the  lot  have  a  high, 
strong  stone  wall.  During  the  year  1856  these  repairs  and  im- 
provements were  made  at  an  expense  of  $926.79.  There  were, 
however,  additional  charges  for  conveyancing,  furnishing  and  re- 
pairing the  audience  room,  amounting  to  some  $161,  makine  the 
total  cost  of  the  property  $2695.79. 

Ten  families  of  the  little  congregation  subscribed  $956  in 
amounts  from  $500  to  $5  ;  there  being,  however,  only  one  $500 
subscription.  Nine  members,  through  their  efforts,  collected 
$345.55,  and  in  monthly  offerings  $45.32  was  secured ;  and  the 
pastor,  through  visits  to  congregations  of  Philadelphia  Presbytery 
and  by  collecting  tours  in  surrounding  States,  gathered  and  paid 
into  the  building  fund  during  the  fall  of  1856  and  the  spring  of 
1857  the  sum  of  $1090.05,  making  a  total  amount  of  money  from 
these  various  sources  of  $2436.92.  When  Mr.  Robert  McBride, 
treasurer  of  the  building  fund,  moved  to  Pittsburg,  April,  1858,  the 
fund  was  indebted  to  him  $97.87,  but  in  i860  the  congregation 
paid  this  debt,  giving  him  $100. 

We  might  stop  here  for  a  few  moments  to  inquire  how  and 
where  did  the  pastor  secure  this  almost  $1100,  which  he  paid  into 
the  building  fund.  Immediately  after  accepting  the  call  of  the  con- 
gregation in  May,  1856,  he  must  have  begun  the  difficult  business 
of  collecting  for  the  building,  since  his  account  book  shows  that  on 
August  26;  1856,  he  paid  to  R.  McBride,  treasurer,  $60,  and  from 
that  time  until  the  spring  of  1857  various  amounts  from  $20  to 
over  $200  at  a  time.  He  canvassed  the  Associate  congregations 
of  Philadelphia,  as  also  those  of  Baltimore,  Oxford  and  Octoraro ; 
going  from  door  to  door,  and  accepting  what  the  people  were 
willing  to  give. 


34  SKVKNTII   UNlTi:n   PRlCSBYTlvRIAN  CHURCH.  1867 

He  spent  November  and  December.  1856,  in  canvassing  tbe 
conf:^reg^ations  of  Albany  and  Cambridge  Presbyteries,  and  it  was 
during  the  winter  tour  that  he  made  tlie  acquaintance  of  a  Cam- 
bridge Valley  charmer,  whom,  fifteen  years  later,  he  married.  In 
March,  1857,  the  pastor  started  on  a  collecting  journey  West, 
spending  two  months  in  and  around  Pittsburg.  The  plan  usually 
adopted  was,  if  agreeable,  to  preach  in  the  congregation  on  Sab- 
bath, make  an  appearand  then  during  the  week  visit  families  in 
their  homes,  or  business  men  at  their  offices ;  in  most  cases  to  be 
treated  kindly,  occasionally  otherwise.  If  any  reader  thinks  the 
work  easy,  let  him  give  it  a  trial.  The  full  receipts  and  expendi- 
tures in  connection  with  the  old  building  and  grounds  will  be  found 
in  Appendix  i. 

About  this  time — the  year  1857,  a  scheme  was  agitated  to  re- 
model the  old  church  building  just  purchased ;  by  raising  the  walls 
some  nine  feet,  making  it  two  stories  high,  with  audience  room 
above,  lecture  and  other  rooms  in  the  basement,  together  with  a 
vestibule  and  two  square  towers  in  front,  and  the  project  had  been 
so  far  carried  out  as  to  have  Joseph  Singerly,  Esq.,  president  of 
the  4th  and  8th  Sts.  Passenger  Railway,  and  father  of  the  late 
William  M.  Singerly,  proprietor  and  publisher  of  "The  Philadel- 
phia Record,"  draw  plans,  and  even  prominent  Frankford  me- 
chanics had  furnished  estimates  of  the  cost.  The  following  letter 
from  Robert  McBride,  addressed  to  the  writer,  who  was  then  in 
the  region  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  collecting  for  the  building  fund,  will 
throw  light  on  this  proposed  architectural  improvement : 

"Frankford,  March  18,  1857. 
"Rev.  J.  Price,  Dear  Friend : — 

"1  have  delayed  writing  until  now,  in  hope  of  being  able  to 
get  Mr.  Peters'  estimate,  but  have  not  succeeded  as  yet,  and  as  he 
is  very  busily  engaged  just  now,  it  seems  ver\'  uncertain  whether  I 
can  get  it  before  next  week.  He  is  very  anxious  that  he  and  Mc- 
Cartney should  do  the  work,  and  thinks  that  they  can  do  it  a  little 
cheai)er  than  any  other  ])arties.  Mr.  Taylor  informs  me  that  by 
making  those  alterations  that  we  spoke  of  and  leaving  out  those 
windows  in  the  towers,  and  not  finishing  the  basement  will  make  a 
difference  in  cost  of  probably  $250,  and  moreover  that  tl>e  mason  in 
making  his  estimate  calculated  for  raising  the  walls  nine  feet  in- 
stead of  seven,  as  we  had  agreed  on,  which  will  reduce  his  esti- 
mate about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  which  would  reduce 
the  whole  amount  about  $400.  If  I  correctly  understand  it  the 
following  is  a  statement  of  Taylor  and  Foulkrod's  estimate:  Ma- 
son work,  $1900;  carpenters,  $1250;  painting,  glazing,  etc.,  $250. 


-Mi^^f-;    .\Nx.\    !■:.    m  >Ki.;Kr:-:(  .X 


1857  FIRST  pastorate;  to  union  of  1858.  35 

total,  $3400,  from  which  deduct  $400,  leaving  to  raise  $3000,  which, 
I  suppose,  is  about  as  low  as  we  can  get  it  cut  down,  to  preserve 
anything  like  the  present  plan — rather  a  frightful  sum.  I  fear  we 
shall  have  to  abandon  the  present  design  for  something  that  will 
not  cost  so  much.      Truly  yours, 

"Robert  McBride." 

In  all  likelihood  this  architectural  change  was  not  further 
pursued,  because  of  the  unfavorable  character  of  the  location.  In 
the  spring  of  1857  the  pastor  closed  his  collecting  journeys  to  out- 
side Presbyteries  until  about  the  same  time  in  the  year  1863,  when 
he  entered  on  the  great  work  of  scouring  the  country  to  secure 
means  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church  in  a  more  choice  location. 

In  order  that  the  Philadelphia  pastors  of  our  denomination 
might  be  free  to  assist  each  other  at  Communion  (there  being  at 
that  time  the  universal  custom  of  serving  tables  each  with  a  spe- 
cial address),  the  four  Associate  congregations  had  arranged  their 
sacraments  the  first  Sabbath  of  the  month,  so  as  not  to  conflict, 
those  of  the  Fourth  Church  being  March,  July,  November. 

The  early  dispensations  of  the  Lord's  Supper  in  the  Frankford 
Church  were  as  follows  :  "The  first  was  on  April  23,  1855,  in  con- 
nection with  the  organization  of  the  congregation ;  the  second  oc- 
curred March  2t,,  1856,  at  which  by  appointment  Rev.  Francis 
Church  presided,  and  it  was  in  connection  with  the  installation  of 
the  two  first  elders.  The  third  Communion  was  observed  Septem- 
ber 7,  1856,  immediately  after  the  ordination  and  installation  of 
James  Price,  the  first  pastor,  and  was  by  him  dispensed. 

The  first  marriage  in  connection  with  the  congregation,  at 
which  the  pastor  officiated  took  place  on  September  29,  1856,  be- 
tween John  Haworth  and  Miss  Sallie  A.  Morrison,  the  witnesses 
being  Robert  McBride  and  Dr.  E.  F.  Leake,  and  the  second  was 
that  between  Robert  McBride  and  Miss  Louisa  Morrison,  July  27, 
1857.  The  first  infant  baptism  was  that  of  William  McKnight, 
son  of  William  and  Jane  Taylor,  on  October  26,  1856.  The  first 
funeral  service  was  that  at  the  burial  of  two  children  of  Martin 
Shaw. 

The  pastor  had  made  his  home,  from  entering  on  his  work  in 
Frankford,  at  the  hou^e  of  Mr.  Robert  McBride,  on  Paul  street ; 
the  latter  having  in  1857  moved  to  Sellers  street,  Mr.  Price,  on 
August  I,  1857,  changed  his  lodgings  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Thomas 
McBride,  Sr.,  on  Adams  street,  Frankford. 

It  might  have  been  stated  that  in  connection  with  a  Poor 
Fund  a  Dorcas  Society  was  founded  November  i,  1857,  which 


36  SKVIvXTII   UNITED   PRESliVTKKIAN   CIIUKCII.  1858 

between  that  and  the  March  following  collected  $30  and  distrib- 
uted 150  pieces  of  clothing. 

The  year  1857  has  been  known  in  history  as  one  of  the  panic 
years.  Finance,  business,  manufacturing  interests,  and,  indeed,  all 
departments  of  work,  were  greatly  deranged.  The  year  was  a  dis- 
tressingly dark  and  discouraging  one  for  the  Frankford  Mission 
Church ;  truly  for  a  time  it  looked  as  though  the  congregation 
would  be  broken  up.  The  families  of  the  Messrs.  Woodside,  Wal- 
kers and  some  of  the  McBrides  had  gone  to  Iowa  as  early  as 
September,  1856.  The  business  distress  caused  Mr,  Thomas  Mc- 
I'ride  to  close  his  factory  and  Mr.  Robert  McBride  his  dyeing 
establishment,  and  as  in  the  factory  of  the  former  many  of  the 
members  of  the  congregation  were  employed,  the  removals  were 
necessarily  numerous  and  alarming.  In  April,  1858,  Robert  Mc- 
Bride and  William  Taylor  moved  their  families  and  connections 
to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  on  September  16  of  that  year,  Mr.  Thomas 
McBride,  Sr.,  and  his  family,  went  as  far  West  as  Davenport, 
Iowa.  And  to  these  must  be  added  such  families  as  Haddock, 
Morrison,  Haworth,  Smiley  and  others,  who  also  removed  to  the 
West.  When  all  these  had  left  us  we  not  only  felt  as  though  the 
choicest  and  most  valuable  part  of  the  congregation  had  gone,  but 
wondered  almost  whether  any  were  going  to  remain. 

So  much  did  tlic  troubles  of  this  year  occupy  the  public  mind 
and  so  varied  were  the  causes  to  which  they  were  attributed  and 
the  means  proposed  for  their  removal  that  the  pastor  of  the 
Fourth  Church  deemed  it  his  duty  to  endeavor  to  improve  the  oc- 
sion  by  instruction  from  the  pulpit.  On  Sabbath  day,  October  21, 
1857,  he  delivered  a  discourse  in  the  church  from  these  words : 
"Whoso  is  wise,  and  will  observe  these  things,  even  they  shall 
understand  the  loving  kindness  of  the  Lord." — Psalms  cvii,  43. 
.At  the  request  of  persons  in  the  congregation,  this  sermon  was 
published  in  the  Westminster  Herald,  whose  office  was  at  New 
Wilmington,  Pa.  As  a  matter  of  interest  a  skele.on  of  the  dis- 
course is  here  given : 

"The  circumstances  under  which  we  arc  now  placed  cannot 
hut  make  us  think,  as  it  is  their  peculiarity  to  lirst  make  us  feel. 
But  what  are  these  providences  which  now  address  us  in  such 
imjjerative  tones?  What  terrible  disaster  is  that  with  which  we 
are  nuw  visited?  lias  the  volcano,  fire,  wind,  pestilence  or  war 
hnjught  desolation  ?  Xo,  thanks  to  the  Almighty,  we  are  free  from 
all  these.     We  shall  endeavor  to: 


1867  FIRST  pastorate:  to  union  of  1858,  37 

"I.  Point  out  some  of  the  probable  causes  of  our  present 
difficulties. 

"National  judgments  may  frequently  be  traced  to  national 
sins,  and  we  ought  not  to  forget  the  gigantic  system  of  oppression, 
however  seemingly  remote  from  our  present  troubles,  which  has 
been  legalized  by  the  unrighteous  decrees  of  civil  enactment,  and 
which  finally  grasps  the  polished  shield  of  the  Gospel  to  hide  its 
enormities  and  repel  its  enemies ;  nor  ought  we  to  overlook  that 
organized  scheme  of  infidelity  which,  devoid  of  the  talent  and  bril- 
liancy of  the  past  century,  would  sweep  away  from  us  the  light  of 
religion  and  even  rob  the  moral  heavens  of  their  great  luminary. 
It  would  seem  to  me  that  FxTravagancF  lies  at  the  basis  of  our 
present  distress,  and  that  manifesting  itself  in  three  ways,  opinion, 
expenditures  and  speculation.  We  here  notice : 

II.  Some  of  the  errors  into  which  we  are  liable  to  fall  at 
such  a  time : 

"I.  To  attribute  such  judgments  as  the  present  entirely  to 
natural  causes. 

"2.     Trusting  entirely  to  human  instrumentality  for  relief. 

"3.  Immoderate  censure  of  any  one  class  of  our  fellow  men 
as  involving  in  these  difficulties. 

III.  Some  of  the  lessons  to  be  learned  in  our  present  crisis  : 
"i.     That  God  is  supreme  in  the  affairs  of  the  universe. 

"2.     Humility. 

"3.  The  necessity  that  religion  should  pervade  the  masses 
of  the  people. 

Let  us  remember  the  sentiment  of  a  great  English  statesman, 
Edmund  Burk,  that  religion  is  the  basis  of  all  civil  society,  and 
the  source  of  all  good ;  and  may  we  not  add  that  he  is  the  best 
citizen  and  the  truest  Christian  who  shows  his  loyalty  to  his  ruler 
by  his  love  to  his  God. 

The  fifty-sixth  meeting  of  the  Associate  Synod  of  North 
America  and  the  last  but  one  previous  to  the  union,  was  held  in 
the  First  Associate  Church,  Philadelphia,  May  20,  1857.  Meals 
were  served  in  the  church,  and  one  day  it  entered  the  heart  of  the 
well-known  printer,  William  S.  Young,  to  give  an  extra  treat  at 
lunch.  Having  procured  a  large  number  of  pies  at  a  neighbor- 
ing store,  the  donor  put  them  in  a  large  clothes  basket,  placed  it 
on  his  shoulder  and  started  for  the  Synod;  but  unfortunately  the 
fluid  contents  of  the  pies,  leaving  the  appointed  bounds  of  its 
crust,  distilled  upon  his  shirt  collar  and   shoulders,  causing  his 


38  SEVENTH    UMTKI)    I'RKSBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1  So7 

garments  to  be  in  a  sorry  condition  wIkii  he  reachcfl  the  church. 
The  Fourth  Associate,  or  Frank fcjrd,  Church  was  represented 
in  the  Synod  by  the  pastor  and  Mr.  Robert  McHride  as  elder,  and 
tlie  congregation  had  sent  with  the  former  $39  as  its  share  of  the 
lunch  expenses.  This  meeting  of  the  Synod  was  a  most  important 
and  stirring  one  ;  tlie  union  with  the  Associate  Reformed  Churcli 
being  long  and  earnestly  discussed.  The  matter  of  an  exchange 
of  pulpits  with  the  l^rethren  of  that  denomination  (in  which  our 
Philadelphia  l^resbytery  had  indulged  in  the  past  year),  having 
in  a  report  of  a  certain  minority  opposing  it,  been  brought  up. 
Mr.  Price,  the  Frankford  pastor,  made  the  following  sophomore 
little  speech,  which  he  afterwards  thought  he  ought  not  to  have 
delivered  before  so  many  older  and  wiser  ministers.  It  was,  how- 
ever published  in  one  of  the  Philadelphia  journals  of  that  day, 
and  we  give  it  here. 

"Mr.  Moderator,  I  am  not  unaware  that  it  is  the  part  of  the 
younger  members  of  this  Synod  to  sit  with  all  patience  antl  listen 
to  those  who  by  their  experience,  as  well  as  their  years,  are  fitted 
to  guide  its  councils  and  deliberations ;  but,  sir,  there  are  times 
when  duty  demands  that  they  should  not  be  silent.  The  present 
I  deem  to  be  such  a  time.  I  have  the  honor  to  belong  to  the 
Presbytery  whose  resolution  called  forth  the  present  report,  and 
of  that  resolution  1  am  proud.  It  is  unhappy  for  the  Presbytery 
and  the  minority  of  this  committee  that  they  have  neglected  to 
point  out  the  principle  of  the  Associate  Church  which  we  have  vio- 
lated. It  is  unfortunate  for  them  that  they  have  failed  to  remind 
us  of  the  passage  of  Scripture  upon  which  we  have  trampled  when 
we  invite  the  brethren  with  whom  we  are  negotiating  for  union 
to  proclaim  the  everlasting  gospel.  1  love  the  Associate  Church, 
but  1  also  love  those  who  stand  so  near  to  us  in  the  faith  anil  prac- 
tice of  our  holy  religion.  I  love  to  tread  upon  the  dust  of  the 
immortal  Erskines  whether  I  find  it  crumbling  in  the  graves  of 
Scotland,  (jr  glowing  on  the  pages  of  the  history  of  the  "Seces- 
sion ;"  but  i  can  also  take  my  brother  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Church  by  the  hand  and  invite  him  to  my  pulpit.  If  the  report 
of  the  minority  of  this  committee  is  adopted,  we  have  truly  reason 
to  fear  the  consequences." 

God  always  takes  care  of  His  own  cause,  and  if  a  congrega- 
tion becomes  discouraged  through  loss  of  some  of  its  members 
He  furnishes  others  to  take  their  places.  We  almost  feared  in 
the  years   1857  and    1858  that  our  beloved  church  in  Frankford 


i>Axii;i.    ^I^■KI•ll^' 


1858  FIRST  pastoratf;  to  union  of  1858.  39 

would  be  broken  up  through  its  leading  and  ablest  families  going 
West;  but  the  Head  of  the  Church  taught  the  little  band  to  go 
forward;  and  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1858  He  strengthened  our 
hands  by  sending  us  two  of  the  choicest  families  in  the  Associate 
Church,  those  of  Daniel  Murphy  and  his  widowed  daughter,  Mrs. 
Margaretta  Murphy  Cooper,  the  two  families  making  their  home 
together.  Mr.  Murphy  had  been  an  elder  in  the  First  and  Sec- 
ond Associate  Churches,  Philadelphia,  as  also  assistant  treasurer 
of  the  Associate  Synod ;  and  Mrs.  Cooper  had  been  a  noted 
worker  in  the  Third  Asociate,  afterward  the  Sixth  United  Pres- 
byterian congregation.  On  the  second  Sabbath  of  May,  1858, 
the  writer  was  invited  to  assist  Rev.  Hugh  Henry  Blair,  pastor 
of  Charles  Street  Associate  Church,  New  York  City,  at  his  Com- 
munion. This  was  one  of  the  largest  congregations  in  the  Asso- 
ciate Church,  numbering  at  one  time  nearly  a  thousand  members ; 
and  from  this  time  till  Mr.  Blair's  death,  in  1877,  he  was  often 
called  upon  to  minister  in  that  congregation  on  such  occasions. 

During  July  of  this  year,  as  a  third  Sabbath  evening  service, 
the  writer  preached  once  in  each  of  the  Washington  and  Decatur 
fire  engine  houses,  of  Frankford.  On  April  15,  by  invitation  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Murphy,  he  for  the  first  time  occupied  the  pulpit 
and  conducted  the  service  of  the  Frankford  Presbyterian  congre- 
gation. Their  building  was  a  small,  yellow-plastered  one,  being 
only  one  story,  and  occupied  the  same  site  as  their  present  one. 
His  first  proclaiming  the  Gospel  in  the  Baptist  Church  of  Frank- 
ford was,  by  invitation  of  the  new  pastor,  Rev.  Isaac  Gray,  on 
the  third  Sabbath  of  November,  1858. 

The  most  important  and  delightful  event  of  this  year  1858 
was  the  union  between  the  Associate  and  Asosciate  Reformed 
Churches  of  this  country,  and  which  we  cannot  but  feel  came  in 
answer  to  the  prayers,  and  as  a  fruit  of  the  efforts  of  nearly  a 
score  of  years.  The  Union  took  place  in  the  City  Hall,  Pitts- 
burg, a  building  which  in  this  year  (1905)  is  still  standing.  The 
pastor  of  the  Frankford  Church  attended  the  Associate  Synod 
that  year,  which  met  in  the  First  Associate  Church,  Pittsburg, 
whose  building  was  on  Seventh,  near  Smithfield  street,  and  he 
had  the  honor  and  pleasure  of  taking  part  in  the  memorable  exer- 
cises of  the  union,  which  took  place  on  Wednesday,  May  26,  1858. 
From  this  time  the  Frankford  congregation  was  termed  the  Sev- 
enth United  Presbyterian,  instead  of  the  Fourth  Associate. 

Now  that  the  name  of  the  congregation  could  be  permanently 


40  SICVKNTH   UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  1858 

fixed,  it  was  resolved  that  it  should  be  incorporated,  and  so,  on 
July  26.  1858.  application  was  made  to  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  Philadelphia  for  a  charter,  which  was  granted  December 
6,  1858,  a  copy  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 


■II II  >\i  \  .~    M,  i^.|{  I  I  >!•: 


CHAPTE-R  III. 

From  the  Union  of  1858  to  the  Sale  of  the  Old  Church,  1858-1863. 

Thomas  McBride,  Sr.,  having  in  the  middle  of  September, 

1858,  moved  to  the  West,  Mr.  Price,  the  pastor,  changed  his  lodg- 
ings to  the  house  of  Daniel  Murphy,  4428  Frankford  avenue, 
where  he  found  a  delightful  home  for  nearly  fourteen  years  or 
until  after  his  marriage,  when  he  established  a  home  of  his  own. 

In  1859,  to  make  amends  for  the  unfavorable  location  of  the 
church,  the  pastor  for  nearly  three  months  held  a  series  of  Sab- 
bath evening  services  in  Wright's  Institute,  Frankford.  This 
was  sometimes  a  third  sermon  service,  although  on  some  occa- 
sions there  was  a  congregational  prayer  meeting  in  the  afternoon. 
The  audiences  in  the  church  numbered  fifty  to  sixty  in  1859,  with 
120  in  the  Institute;  and  the  attention  in  both  places  was  excel- 
lent. It  is  believed  that,  among  others,  Miss  Hoagland,  after- 
wards a  noted  member  and  worker  in  the  church,  was  secured 
through  these  Institute  efforts. 

About  this  period  an  attempt  was  made  to  secure  an  addition 
to  the  eldership,  and  so  on  Wednesday  evening,   February   16, 

1859,  a  suitable  sermon  was  preached,  after  which  Mr.  Alexander 
Lackey  was  chosen,  but  he  afterwards  declined  to  serve. 

Prayer  meetings  on  two  consecutive  Thursday  evenings  were 
held  in  the  Decatur  Fire  Engine  House,  on  Church  street,  but  we 
did  not  succeed  in  having  any  firemen  attend. 

The  record  shows  that  during  1859  there  was  a  INIission  Com- 
mittee in  our  congregation,  consisting  of  the  following  members  : 
Daniel  Murphy,  Robert  Chambers,  James  Lesher,  Alexander  and 
Richard  H.  Lackey,  Robert  Chambers,  Jr.,  Mary  Cooper,  Mary 
Chambers,  Mary  and  Josephine  Wood,  Teresa  Buckhister,  Letitia 
Galbraith,  Ann  Jane  Lackey.  Just  what  was  the  precise  work 
of  his  Committee  the  writer  is  unable  to  state,  but  it  was  likely  to 
gather  people  into  the  church,  and  perhaps  to  draw  out  liberal 
offerings  for  missions. 

Even  as  early  as  this  year  the  pastor  and  some  of  the  more 
earnest  workers  felt  that  a  new  church  was  needed,  with  perhaps 


42  SF.VENTII   UNITED   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  1859 

a  change  of  location  ;  but  the  older  people  of  the  congregation 
thought  such  a  movement  altogether  unnecessary.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  trustees,  however,  on  Friday  evening.  March  ii,  1859, 
after  public  worship,  preparatory  to  the  Communion,  it  was  re- 
solved to  open  books  for  subscrijitions,  to  repair  the  old  church 
or  build  a  new  one. 

The  support  promised  to  the  pastor  when  he  was  settled  over 
tlie  congregation  was  $600.  l)ut  on  February  8.  1859,  he  wrote 
to  the  treasurer,  Alexander  Lackey,  that  he  would  for  a  time 
throw  off  $100  a  year,  so  as  to  facilitate  subscriptions  for  a  new 
building,  owing  to  the  money  pressure  of  the  times,  and,  large 
numbers  of  the  best  supporters  of  the  congregation  removing  to 
the  West,  it  required  strenuous  exertions  to  even  secure  the  re- 
duced amount. 

The  ladies  of  the  congregation,  led  by  Mrs.  Margaretta  M. 
Cooper,  about  the  fall  of  the  year  1858  organized  a  Mite  Society, 
which  for  years  did  most  effective  work  in  meeting  church  inci- 
dental expenses,  repairs,  delinquent  pastor's  support  and  the  like. 
And  sometimes,  as  was  the  case  this  same  year,  the  Lord  raised 
up  a  generous  friend,  like  the  following,  who  donated  as  much 
at  one  time  as  the  Mite  Society  could  secure  in  a  year :  John  Clen- 
denning,  Esq.,  a  manufacturer  at  Unity  and  Leiper  streets,  Frank- 
ford,  sent  to  the  pastor  his  check  for  $50  on  September  17,  1859, 
which  was  handed  to  Alexander  Lackey,  treasurer  of  the  con- 
gregation. 

A  ministers'  and  elders'  United  Presbyterian  Association  of 
Philadelphia  was  in  existence  at  this  time,  which  held  its  meet- 
ings every  Monday  evening  in  the  different  congregations  :  and 
these  were  held  in  turn  in  the  Frankford  Church.  The  writer 
spent  a  delightful  vacation  of  two  weeks  in  August  of  this  year 
at  the  Delaware  House,  Cape  May,  of  which  Mr.  McCrea,  an  elder 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  place,  was  proprietor.  It 
was  likely  through  him  that  the  Frankford  pastor  came  to  preach 
in  the  Cape  May  Presbyterian  Church  at  that  time.  Mr.  Price's 
companion  and  room-mate  at  the  shore  was  that  eloquent  young 
Irishman,  Rev.  Joseph  Nesbit,  who  as  a  jjulpit  orator  delighted 
our  Philadelphia  people. 

Our  Frankford  Sabbath  School,  although  at  this  time  not 
large,  was  active  and  interesting,  notwithstanding  its  cramped 
and  unsuitable  accommodations,  which  was  the  gallery  of  the  old 
church.     During  the  year  a  letter  was  read  to  the  school   from 


1859  FROM    UNION   OF    1858   TO    SALFOF    CHURCH.  43 

one  of  our  missionaries  in  India,  and  on  May  6,  1859,  an  exhibi- 
tion of  the  school  was  given  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  Frankford, 
the  tickets  being  15  cents  for  adults,  and  10  cents  for  children. 
The  exhibition  was  the  repetition  of  one  given  a  few  evenings 
previously  in  Dr.  Cooper's  Church,  with  the  addition  of  such  per- 
formers from  among  our  Frankford  Church  young  people  as 
Charles  Lloyd,  Sarah  and  Ellen  Hardman,  Julia  Stroup,  Augusta 
Buckhister.  Rachel  Hardman,  Robert  Pilkington,  Lizzie  Knowles. 
Mary  Cooper,  Mary  Heyberger,  Annie  Lackey.  These  were 
familiar  names  in  our  Sabbath  school  at  that  time,  and  if  the  eye 
of  any  of  them  now,  at  the  distance  of  over  forty  years,  should 
glance  at  these  pages,  they  might  be  amused  at  the  themes  through 
which  they  then  sought  to  entertain. 

Charles  Lloyd,  a  clean,  neat,  sweet-faced  boy,  gave  the  open- 
ing address ;  Sarah  Hardman  and  friends  selected  "Homes  of 
Earth  ;"  Rachel  Hardman  had  "The  Butterfly,"  and  likely  at  the 
close  of  her  piece  gave  liberty  to  a  living  one,  which  showed  how 
it  could  use  its  wings ;  Robert  Pilkington  bid  the  audience  "Good 
Night"  in  the  midst  of  the  exercises  ;  Lizzie  Knowles  reveled 
among  the  "Stars  and  Flowers ;"  while  Mademoiselles  Cooper 
Heyberger  and  Lackey  charmed  us  with  "Dearest  Spot  on  Earth.'' 
The  exhibition  must  have  been  an  extended  one,  for  the  pro- 
gramme, a  copy  of  which  is  in  the  Souvenir,  contains  fifty  pieces, 
and  the  individual  talent  seems  to  be  almost  as  numerous. 

As  shown  by  an  extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  congregation,  January  2,  i860,  the  following  resolu- 
tion, doubtless  favored  by  the  pastor,  was  adopted:  "Resolved, 
that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  look  out  a  suitable  location  for 
building  a  church  :  James  Price,  the  pastor ;  Robert  Chambers, 
Sr.,  and  David  Scott  were  appointed  on  the  committee."  The  pas- 
tor this  year,  in  addition  to  preaching  for  his  brother  ministers  in 
Philadelphia,  was  invited  to  visit  Rev.  Joseph  Nesbit,  at  Lock 
Haven,  Pa.,  where  he  preached  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for 
his  friend.  He  also  served  the  Mill  Hall  congregation,  of  .the 
same  denomination,  for  one  Sabbath.  In  the  latter  congregation 
he  was  urged  to  accept  a  call,  which  the  elders  promised  would 
be  made  for  him,  and  which  he  declined. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bell,  a  woman  of  strong  mind,  but  who  had 
been  severely  tried,  told  the  pastor  that  after  hearing  his  sermon 


*A   scrap  book  collection   of  letters,   autographs,   circulars, 
tickets,  etc. 


4t  SKVENTH   UNITED   PRESBYTKRI AN  CIIL'RCII.  i860 

on  Genesjs  xii,  1-4.  preached  in  the  church  the  third  Sabhath  of 
December,  1859.  she  determined  to  seek  Christ ;  and  the  record 
shows  that  she  was  received  as  a  communicant  April,  iS^kd. 

Rev.  James  Fitzpatrick,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Presby- 
tery of  Ireland,  visited  our  cono^regation  this  year,  preachings  and 
lecturing  for  us  a  number  of  times  with  j^reat  acceptance.  His 
visit  to  this  country  was  to  collect  money  to  aid  a  small  congre- 
gation in  his  native  land,  and  on  Sabbath,  September  16,  i860, 
our  collection  for  him  amounted  to  $20.68. 

A  course  of  six  lectures  was  delivered  in  the  church  for  the 
benefit  of  the  congregation  during  November  and  December  of 
this  year,  the  charge  for  course  tickets  being  fifty  cents,  and  ten 
cents  for  a  single  lecture.  Among  the  lecturers  were  Rev.  J.  B. 
Dales,  whose  subject  was  "The  Bible  in  Modern  Times;"  Rev. 
George  C.  Arnold,  who  discoursed  on  "The  Scotch  Irish  in 
America  ;"  Rev.  James  Fitzpatrick,  his  theme  being  "Ireland — Its 
Lights  and  Siiadows."  Joseph  Mitchell,  having  been  elected  an 
elder  in  the  congregation,  was  ordained  and  installed  on  Sep- 
tember 30,    i860. 

That  accomplished  and  pious  young  minister.  Rev.  Thomas 
Hanna  Beveridge.  ])astor  of  the  Sixth  U.  P.  Church.  Philadelphia, 
having  died  suddenly  in  August,  i860,  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, at  its  meeting  in  Octoraro,  October  23,  i860,  elected  James 
Price  to  fillMiis  place  as  stated  clerk  of  Presbytery,  an  office 
which,  with  a  few  exceptions,  he  has  filled  up  to  the  present  time. 

The  United  Presbyterian  Ministers'  and  Elders'  Association 
met  on  Monday  evening,  December  3.  i860,  in  the  Frankford 
Church,  the  theme  discussed  being  "The  Duty  of  the  Church  to 
Those  Without."  During  the  fall  of  the  year  i860  the  running 
of  the  horse  cars  on  Sabbath  through  the  streets  of  Philadelphia 
was  opposed  by  the  Evangelical  Churches  and  religious  people  of 
the  city.  The  contest  was  a  very  earnest  one,  and  the  pastors 
endeavored  to  faithfully  warn  their  people  against  the  evil.  The 
Frankford  United  Presbyterian  pulpit  having  testified  against  this 
Sabbath  violation  in  a  sennon,  the  same  day  it  called  forth  the 
following  letter*  and  substantial  enclosure  from  a  hearer,  who 
had  on  former  occasions  proved  himself  a  friend  of  the  pastor 
and  congregati(jn,  although  an  occasional  sabbath  car  rider: 

"Rev.  James  Price. 

"Dear  Sir: — I  enclose  through  you  tt)  the  little  church  on  the 
Mill  a  check  for  $25  to  help  to  meet  expenses.     It  felt  very  cold 


1861  FROM    UNION    OF    1858   TO    SALE    OF    CHURCH.  45 

this  morning.  You  may  want  some  coal.  The  church  is  indebted 
to  you  for  this  contribution,  for  I  think  that  if  you  had  not  voted 
against  the  cars  running  on  the  Sabbath  I  would  not  have  given  it. 
I  like  to  see  them  run  on  Sunday  when  I  want  to  go  to  the  city ; 
but  I  like  better  to  see  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  act  up  to  what  he 
professes. 

"Yours  truly  and  respectfully, 

"Sept.  30,  i860.  "JOHN  CLENDENNING." 

The  year  1861  was  not  only  a  trying  one  for  our  beloved 
country,  but  also  for  its  churches ;  because  it  was  the  dawning 
period  of  the  great  American  Rebellion,  and  Frankford,  the 
hitherto  quiet  suburb  of  the  city,  began  to  be  the  scene  if  military 
parades,  with  martial  music  often  desecrating  the  Lord's  day,  and 
thinning  our  Sabbath  audiences. 

Mr.  Joseph  Mitchell's  resignation  as  an  elder  in  the  congre- 
gation was  this  year  offered  and  accepted. 

For  some  time  the  matter  of  selling  the  old  church  property, 
selecting  another  location  and  erecting  a  new  church  had  been 
under  discussion ;  but  touching  these  propositions  there  was  not 
harmony  among  the  members  of  our  congregation.  On  these 
accounts  the  pastor  at  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  the  Fourth 
U.  P.  Church,  April  30,  1861,  offered  his  resignation,  in  a  paper 
in  which  he  states  that  he  believes  the  prosperity  of  the  congre- 
gation demands  a  more  comfortable  church  building,  if  not  a 
change  of  location ;  but  that  an  attempt  to  secure  these  might 
divide  the  congregation,  and  for  these  reasons  he  has  thought  for 
two  years  of  making  a  change.  The  resignation,  according  to 
custom,  was  laid  on  the  table,  and  the  clerk  of  the  Presbytery  in- 
structed to  notify  the  Seventh  Congregation  to  appear  by  author- 
ized commissioners  before  Presbytery  at  its  meeting  in  the  Ninth 
Church,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  June,  1861,  and  show  cause,  if 
any  there  be,  why  the  pastor's  request  to  be  released  should  not 
be  granted. 

At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  the  Ninth  Church,  June  11, 
the  matter  of  the  resignation  was  taken  up,  when  a  paper  from 
the  Seventh  Congregation  was  presented,  strongly  urging  that 
the  resignation  be  not  accepted,  and  that  the  pastor  be  urged  to 
remain.  Messrs.  \V.  W.  Stratton  and  Robert  S.  Browning  also 
appeared  before  Presbytery  as  authorized  commissioners  from 
the  congregation,  and  by  invitation  addressed  the  court,  "earnestl> 


*Original   in   Souvenir. 


46  sKvKNTii  iNn'i:n  prrshytkriax  church.  1862 

requesting  that  if  possible  Mr.  Price  should  continue  in  his  pres- 
ent relation  to  said  church." 

After  hearing  all  the  parties,  it  was  resolved  by  rresbytery 
that  Mr.  Price  be  advised  to  withdraw  his  resignation,  which  in 
deference  to  Presbytery's  wisdom  and  counsel  he  <lid. 

During  the  time  that  Mr.  Price's  resignation  lay  on  Presby- 
tery's table,  solicitations  were  presented  to  him  to  go  to  certain 
other  fields  of  labor,  among  which  was  an  urgent  letter  from 
Rev.  Robert  Armstrong,  then  pastor  of  the  I'.  P.  congregatioii 
of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  wishing  to  know  if  he  "would  have  any  ob- 
jection to  coming  to  this  (New  York)  Presbytery  if  an  inviting 
field  of  usefulness  should  present  itself."  The  advice  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  was  allowed  to  settle  the  matter,  as 
well  as  the  repeated  ofTer  of  a  call  to  Mill  Hall,  Pa. 

During  the  year  1861  the  President's  call  for  volunteers  for 
the  American  army  was  responded  to  by  the  formation  of  a  com- 
pany of  the  young  men  of  Frankford.  among  whom  it  is  believed 
were  some  persons  connected  with  the  Seventh  Church.  The 
company  before  its  departure  to  the  scat  of  war  accepted  an  invi- 
tation to  worship  with  our  congregation.  Our  old  Baptist  Church 
was  filled  to  overflowing  that  evening,  the  captain  of  the  company, 
Mr.  Ritman  Joshua  Garsed,  an  officer,  and  many  well-known 
young  men  of  Frankford  being  present,  on  which  occasion  the 
pastor  preached  a  suitable  sermon. 

The  United  Presbyterian,  of  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
held  its  regular  meeting  in  the  Frankford  Church  September  29, 
1862,  and  was  opened  with  a  sermon  by  Dr.  Dales,  his  theme 
being  "Money  in  Its  Relation  to  the  Evangelization  of  the  World." 
(Zach.  viii,  11.) 

A  large  amount  of  business  was  transacted  at  this  meeting, 
covering  seventeen  pages  of  Presbytery's  minutes,  the  Frankford 
congregation  being  presbytcrially  visited,  and  its  session  minutes 
approved. 

On  February  11,  1862,  the  pastor,  to  reach  some  people  out- 
side the  congregation,  arranged  for  a  public  tea  meeting  for  all  the 
parents  who  sent  their  children  to  our  Sabbath  school,  and  all  per- 
sons whom  he  had  visited  who  did  not  attend  public  wt)rship.  .A 
small  invitatoin  card  printed  in  scrijit  was  sent  to  each,  and  read 
as  follows  : 

"Pastor's  Tea  Meeting.     The  pastor  of  the  Frankford  United 


.MH>:.     M.     M.      lOOPIOK 


1862  FROM    UNION    OF    1858    TO    SALF    OF    CHURCH.  47 

Presbyterian  Church  respectfully  invites  you  to  tea  in  the  church, 
Tuesday  evening,  February  11,  1862." 

There  were  devotional  exercises,  addresses  and  refreshments. 
The  meeting-  was  largely  attended,  and  it  is  believed  the  results 
were  good.  Some  of  the  mothers  present  in  dandling  their 
babies  over  the  edge  of  the  old  church  gallery  made  an  exhibition 
of  living  statuary,  and  one  of  the  lady  attendants  of  that  evening 
never  thought  of  the  tea  meeting  without  laughing  over  the  pic- 
turesque display. 

The  matter  of  either  repairing  the  old  church,  which  from 
the  time  of  its  purchase  had  been  considered,  or  a  change  of  loca- 
tion and  the  erection  of  a  new  building,  which  in  later  times  had 
also  been  discussed,  now  began  to  take  definite  shape.  An  ab- 
stract from  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  which 
met  in  the  Sixth  United  Presbyterian  Church,  December  29,  1862, 
will  explain  itself.  It  is  as  follows  :  "Heard  Rev.  James  Price 
make  some  statements  in  relation  to  the  condition  of  the  Seventh 
Church,  whereupon  the  following  was  adopted :  Whereas,  Pres- 
bytery have  heard  from  the  Rev.  James  Price  statements  relative 
to  repairing  the  church  building  in  Frankford,  and  whereas  Pres- 
bytery are  not  fully  satisfied  as  to  the  propriety  of  repairing  said 
church  building,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  proceed 
to  Frankford  to  examine  the  field  there,  and  the  church  building, 
and  to  consult  with  and  advise  the  members  of  the  congregation 
as  to  what  is  best  to  be  done  in  the  circumstances  ;  and  that  the 
committee,  if  they  and  the  congregation  should  decide  that  the 
church  building  should  be  repaired,  be  directed  to  prepare  and 
publish  a  paper,  recommending  the  brethren  in  Frankford  to  the 
sympathy  and  aid  of  the  several  congregations  in  the  Presbytery. 
The  Moderator  announced  the  following  as  the  committee.  Rev. 
Messrs.  Andrew  and  Church,  with  Elders  Stinson,  Skelton  and 
Huey." 

This  committee  felt  it  had  power,  after  examining  the  field, 
the  church  property,  and  consulting  with  the  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  as  to  what  was  best  to  be  done  under 
the  circumstances,  to  recommend  either  the  repair  of  the  old 
building  or  a  change  of  location  and  the  erection  of  a  new  one. 
After  careful  examination  and  thought  the  latter  course  was 
recommended.     The  committee  reported  in  January,   1863,  and 


48  SKVKNTIl    INITKD    I'RIvSUYTKRIAN   CHURCH.  1862 

their  report  in  substance  will  be  found  in  this  history  in  its  proper 
place  under  that  year. 

In  our  Frankford  congregation,  so  recently  organized  and 
feeble,  there  were  very  few  young  men  to  go  as  soldiers  to  the 
seat  of  war,  although  the  members  of  the  congregation,  male  and 
female,  young  and  old,  were  most  patriotic.  The  writer,  who 
has  to  depend  largely  on  his  memory  in  this  matter,  calls  up  the 
following,  and  there  may  have  been  others  who  went  out  in 
defence  of  their  country:  Messrs.  William  Taylor,  M.  D. ;  Alex- 
ander Galbraith,  James  M.  Latimer,  Thomas  Haddock  McBride, 
Chesney  Mclkide  and  John  Outon.  The  writer  happens  to  have 
in  his  possession  a  letter  from  the  above  Thomas  Haddock  Mc- 
Bride, showing  that  he  and  his*  younger  brother  were  connected 
with  the  famous  One  Hundredth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, better  known  as  the  Roundhead  Regiment,  Colonel  Leasure 
commanding,  and  of  which  the  late  pious  and  excellent  Rev.  R. 
Audley  Brown,  D.  D..  was  chaplain,  who  died  only  a  short  time 
ago.  Enclosed  in  this  letter  was  a  small  war  news  journal,  four 
pages  note  paper  size,  entitled  "The  Camp  Kettle,"*  The  letter 
of  young  Mr.  McBride,  who  was  a  son  of  the  late  Robert  Mc- 
Bride, an  elder  in  the  congregation,  and  one  of  our  Sabbath  school 
boys,  is  such  a  precious  relic,  and  so  interesting  on  many  accounts 
that  we  have  no  hesitation  in  giving  it  here  in  full. 

"Camp  of  the  looth  (Roundhead)   Regiment,  P.  V., 

"Beaufort,  S.  C,  February  17,  1862. 
"Rev.  James  Price. 

"Dear  Sir: — The  last  time  I  recollect  having  seen  you  w^as 
one  evening  last  summer  as  1  was  passing  the  Rev.  Mr.  Arnold's 
house,  on  Lombard  street.  .\t  that  time  1  mentioned  my  inten- 
tion of  joining  the  army,  which  1  did,  and  now  having  been  away 
from  the  city  of  Philadelphia  since  August  28th  last,  in  the  service 
of  'Uncle  Sam,'  I  thought  that  you  might  be  pleased  to  hear  how 
I  was  getting  along.  1  belong  to  the  One  Hundredth  Pennsyl- 
vania Regiment,  better  known  as  the  'Roundheads,'  Colonel 
Daniel  Leasure  (of  Lawrence  County)  commanding.  The  name 
Roundheads  was  given  us  by  Simon  Cameron,  late  Secretary  of 
War,  more  principally  on  account  of  the  descent  of  many  of  its 
members  and  the  commemoration  of  the  Roundheads  of  Oliver 
Cromwell.  Since  we  have  been  in  the  service  we  have  gained 
an  enviable  reputation.     The  most  noticeable  feature  in  our  regi- 


*Original    in    Souvenir. 


1862  FROM    UNION    OF    1858   TO    SALF    OF    CHURCH.  49 

ment  is  morality.  I  have  but  very  seldom  heard  a  profane  word 
used  in  the  lines  of  our  camp,  and  I  do  not  believe  that  in  the 
six  months  we  have  been  in  the  service  a  dozen  men  have  been 
imprisoned  in  the  guard  house,  and  scarcely  a  night  passes  but 
what  prayer  meetings  are  held  in  the  camp  ground.  Since  we  have 
come  to  Beaufort  we  hold  divine  service  in  the  Episcopal  Church 
of  this  place  every  Sabbath.  The  church  itself  for  beauty,  ex- 
ternal and  internal,  is  excelled  by  very  few  churches  in  Philadel- 
phia. Our  chaplain  is  the  Rev.  R,  Audley  Browne,  of  New- 
castle, Lawrence  County,  Pa.,  a  United  Presbyterian.  No  doubj; 
you  know  him.  It  is  a  grand  sight  to  see  the  regiment  marching 
down  the  deserted  streets  of  Beaufort,  with  gleaming  muskets 
every  Sabbath  morning  to  church,  no  doubt  dedicated  by  an  ex- 
cruciatingly select  people  for  a  place  wherein  to  listen  to  fashion- 
able sermons.  Little  did  the  aristocratic  South  Carolinans  think 
that  Union  sermons  would  be  preached  here.  We  were  paid  off 
last  Tuesday,  and  the  paymaster  used  the  house  of  that  arch 
traitor,  R.  Barnwell  Rhett,  as  his  office  for  our  payment. 

We  were  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Port  Royal  Ferry,  on 
Coosaw  River,  on  the  first  and  second  days  of  last  January.  The 
most  grand  and  most  terrific  sight  I  ever  witnessed  was  the  tak- 
ing of  Forts  Walker  and  Beauregard,  on  Hilton  Head,  on  the  7th 
of  last  November.  For  the  first  two  hours  after  the  battle  com- 
menced it  appeared  that  our  chances  of  taking  the  forts  were 
small,  but  when  the  flagship  Wabash  moved  up  to  the  scene  of 
action,  and  poured  broadside  after  broadside,  the  current  of  battle 
was  changed,  the  fort  was  taken,  and  the  shouts  of  the  thousands 
on  the  transports,  together  with  the  martial  music  of  the  bands, 
as  the  old  flag  was  run  up  and  the  rebel  flag  pulled  down,  was  a 
sight  that  will  be  vivid  in  my  recollection  the  longest  day  I  live. 

"We  have  been  at  Beaufort  now  for  some  length  of  time, 
and  there  appears  to  be  no  signs  of  our  moving  onward  soon, 
although  we  might  receive  orders  to  do  so  before  24  hours ;  for 
in  war  changes  are  very  frequent,  and  the  order  to  have  rations 
prepared  to  march,  and  so  on,  comes  often  when  it  is  least  ex- 
pected. I  suppose  our  next  move  will  be  to  Savannah.  The 
rebels  appear  in  this  region  of  the  country  to  be  fed  well  enough, 
but  their  uniform  is  most  miserable.  Our  pickets  frequently  con- 
verse with  those  of  the  enemy,  and  in  their  conversation  they 
exhibit  the  same  'braggadocia'  tone  as  their  delegates  were  wont 
to  do  in  the  United  States  Congress  in  days  gone.  My  brother, 
Chesney,  is  here  in  the  Hospital  Department  as  drug  clerk.  He 
likes  it  very  well.  As  for  myself,  I  am  well  pleased  and  have  no 
cause  to  regret  my  step.  The  climate  is  very  pleasant,  there  not 
having  been  weather  cold  enough  to  form  a  particle  of  ice,  and 
the  forests  are  clothed  with  green.  I  sometimes  feel  surprised 
at  reading  in  the  Northern  papers  about  frost  and  so  on.     As  fo** 


50  SEVENTH   UMTKD   PRESBYTF.RIAN  CHURCH.  1862 

US.  WO  have  not  known  what  winter  is.     Please  excuse  this.     Re- 
member me  to  Mrs.  Leshcr  and  all  friends. 

"Yours  truly, 

"THOMAS  HADDOCK  McBRIDE, 
"Co.  K,  looth  (Roundhead),  Reg't,  P.  V.,  Second  Brigade,  Shcr- 

man's  Division,  Beaufort,  S.  C. 
"Direct :  Please  forward  via  New  York." 

The  report  of  the  Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Sabbath 
Schools  at  the  close  of  the  year  1862  was  as  follows:  The  super- 
intendent was  the  pastor,  James  Price ;  there  were  thirteen  teach- 
ers, three  oflficers.  Thirteen  of  these  oflftcers  and  teachers  were 
once  pupils  in  the  schools.  Total  number  of  scholars,  145 ;  aver- 
age attendance,  100;  net  increase  for  the  year,  36;  uniting  with 
the  church  for  the  same  period,  2;  volumes  in  the  library,  400; 
school  expenses,  $29.15;  benevolent  contributions,  $7.82.  The 
pastor  occasionally  holds  a  preaching  service  for  parents  and 
children. 

The  year  1863  was  an  exciting  and  important  one  for  the 
Frankford  Church,  not  only  because  the  war  was  continued,  with 
its  varied  announcement  of  battles  lost  and  won,  but  because  of 
the  agitation  touching  the  sale  of  its  old  church  property,  selecting 
another  location  and  the  erection  of  a  new  edifice.  The  Com- 
mittee of  the  Presbytery  to  examine  the  Frankford  field  consult 
with  and  advise  the  congregation  as  to  whether  it  was  best  to 
repair  the  old  building  or  seek  another  location  and  erect  a  new 
church ;  reported  against  repairs  and  in  favor  of  a  new  location 
and  building.  Under  authority  of  Presbytery  the  following  letter 
was  sent  by  the  committee  to  the  United  Presbyterian  l)Oard  of 
Church  Extension,  at  Allegheny,  Pa.,  of  which  Rev.  Dr.  John 
T.  Pressly  was  president,  a  copy  of  which  was  also  sent  January 
7,  1863,  to  Mr.  Price,  the  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Church : 

"Philadelphia,  January  7,  1863. 
"To  the  Board  of  Church  Extension  of  the  United  Presbyterian 

Church. 

"Dear  Brethren : — The  undersigned,  apnointed  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia  to  examine  the  church  building  at  Frank- 
ford, and  the  location  in  which  it  is  situated,  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  it  be  more  advisable  to  expend  a  consickTable  amount 
of  funds  in  making  necessary  repairs  to  the  building  now  in  use, 
or  to  select  a  new  site  for  another  building,  are  fully  convinceil 
that  a  change  of  location  is  indispensably  necessary  to  the  growth 


1863  FROM    UNION   OF    1858    TO    SALF    OF    CHURCH.  51 

and  prosperity  of  the  congregation.  We  are  fully  convinced  that 
the  locality  in  which  the  present  edifice  is  situated  has  been  to  a 
great  extent  the  reason  why  the  zealous  labors  of  our  esteemed 
brother,  Rev.  James  Price,  have  not  been  attended  with  greater 
success.  Under  these  considerations,  together  with  the  import- 
ance of  Frankford  as  a  field  for  the  operations  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  we  hereby  recommend  the  cause  of  this 
congregation  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  Board  of 
Church  Extension,  requesting  them  to  grant  the  Rev.  James  Price 
the  necessary  authority  to  solicit  donations  throughout  the 
churches. 

(Signed) 

"REV.  J.  H.  ANDREW. 
"REV.  FRANCIS  CHURCH. 
"THOMAS  STINSON. 
"S.  C.  HUEY. 
"A  true  copy. 

"FRANCIS  CHURCH,  Secretary  of  Committee." 

After  due  notice  from  the  pulpit  a  meeting  of  the  congrega- 
tion was  held  in  the  church  January  12,  1863.  Daniel  Murphy 
was  appointed  chairman.  The  report  of  Presbytery's  Committee 
was  approved  and  the  following  were  appointed  to  carry  out  the 
plan  recommended,  which  included  the  sale  of  the  old  church 
property,  selecting  a  site  and  arranging  for  a  new  building : 
Messrs.  Samuel  Sykes,  Daniel  Murphy,  Daniel  Galbraith  and 
Thomas  B.  Taylor.  It  is  quite  likely  that  Presbytery's  Commit- 
tee may  have  met  with  the  congregation  at  this  or  a  subsequent 
meeting  to  explain  and  favor  their  report.  After  due  notice  an- 
other congregational  meeting  was  held  Thursday  evening,  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1863,  to  determine  finally  as  to  the  sale  of  the  old 
church.  Daniel  Murphy  was  appointed  chairman  and  James 
Haddock  secretary.  The  following  paper,  after  hearing  the  report 
of  the  committee  on  sale  of  the  old  church  property,  and  select- 
ing a  site,  was  adopted :  "Whereas,  the  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia has  recommended  a  change  of  location,  for  reasons  stated 
before  the  congregation,  and  Whereas,  the  congregation  at  its 
meeting  January  12,  1863,  by  a  unanimous  vote  did  concur  in 
Presbytery's  opinion,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  the  same 
into  effect,  said  committee  would  respectfully  report  that  they 
have  received  an  ofifer  for  the  old  church  property  of  $2400 ; 
therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  trustees  of  this  congregation  be 
hereby  authorized  to  accept  the  sum  offered,  transfer  the  prop- 
erty to  the  purchaser,  and  receive  the  purchase  money,  to  be  dis- 


52  SKVIvXTII   UXITF'.D   PRESHYTIvRIAX  CHURCH.  1 H63 

posed  of  as  the  congregation  may  direct."  An  extract  from  the 
minutes  of  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Seventh 
United  Presbyterian  Congregation  held  the  same  evening,  Feb- 
ruary 19.  1863,  iiial^'es  an  addition  to  the  above  resohition  as  fol- 
lows: "And  ordering  trustees  to  sell  and  l)u\  I'aul  street  lots 
at  $1400." 

The  party  who  ])roposcd  to,  and  afterward  did,  ])urchase  the 
old  church  property  was  the  Roman  Catholic  congregation  of 
Frankford,  whose  property  lay  very  near  to  that  purchased,  and 
the  Paul  street  lots  referred  to  consisted  of  a  plot  of  ground  on 
the  east  side  of  Paul  street,  80  feet  front,  running  back  over  120 
feet,  being  the  present  location  of  the  mansion  of  Frank  Row- 
land. Esq. 

As  an  answer  to  the  Committer  of  the  Presbytery,  addressed 
to  the  United  Presbyterian  Boaid  of  Church  Extension,  the  fol- 
lowing letter  was  promptly  received  from  Dr.  J.  T.  Pressly,  the 
president  of  the  Board : 

"Allegheny,  27th  February.  1863. 
"My  dear  Brother: — At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Church 
Extension  held  this  day  it  was  resolved  that  the  agent  of  the 
Frankford  Church,  Philadcl]ihia,  be  authorized  to  explore  the 
Presbyteries  of  Philadelphia,  Delaware,  IVIonongahela,  Allegheny, 
Chartiers,  Frankfort,  Wheeling,  First  Ohio  and  Muskingum,  for 
the  purpose  of  making  collections  in  aid  of  said  church.  These 
include  all  the  Presbyteries  which  you  mention  with  the  exception 
of  Xenia.  As  two  agents  have  just  recently  obtained  permission 
to  explore  that  Presbytery,  it  was  thought  proper  that  it  should 
be  omitted.  The  congregation  employing  the  agent  is  expected 
to  defray  his  expenses,  and  the  agent  is  expected  to  report  his 
success  to  the  Board. 

"With  great  regard,  your  friend, 

"JOHN  T.  PRF.SSLY." 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  above  Presbyteries  constituted  a  large 
space  to  be  visited  by  the  agent,  and  in  suggesting  these  to  the 
Board  the  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Congregation  may  have  been 
actuated  by  two  considerations:  First,  as  tiie  I'oard  was  then  in 
its  infancy  and  had  no  money  to  assist  and  had  to  give  what  was 
termed  territory  instead,  he  may  have  thought  lie  ought  to  be 
lil)eral  in  asking ;  and  second,  he  may  have  desired  to  have  a 
choice  as  to  where  he  should  canvass.  The  report  of  this  ex- 
ploration was  i)ul)lislK(l  in  the  "United  Presbyterian"  in  tlie  year 
1865,  and  will  be  found  in  its  jiropcr  place  in  this  sketch. 


1863  I^ROM    UNION   OF    1858    TO    SALIJ    OF    CHURCH.  53 

At  a  congregational  meeting  held  after  due  notice  March  10, 
1863,  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  their  successors  were  appointed 
a  Building  Committee,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  pastor,  James 
Price,  and  Thomas  B.  Taylor,  be  added  to  the  committee,  and  at 
a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  held  March  16,  1863,  it  was 
resolved  that  the  treasurer  of  the  congregation  be  appointed  to 
pay  the  agent's  expenses  in  collecting  for  the  new  building. 

The  last  Communion,  and,  indeed,  our  last  service  ever  held 
in  the  Old  Baptist  Church,  as  it  was  termed,  was  on  March  8, 
1863.  The  pastor  conducted  the  whole  services  of  the  day, 
preaching  from  the  following  texts :  "He  shall  see  of  the  travail 
of  his  soul,"  Isaiah  liii,  11 ;  "Know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  the 
temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  etc.,  I  Cor.  vi.  19-20. 

On  the  third  Sabbath  of  March,  1863  (15th)  the  Seventh 
Congregation  moved  to  and  began  services  in  Wright's  Institute. 
The  pastor's  texts  that  day  were :  "In  all  places  where  I  record 
My  name,"  etc.,  Exod.  xx,  24;  "Come,  for  all  things  are  now 
ready,"  Luke  xiv,  17. 


^rIis.    M.\K<;.\Ki;'r    m.   tavlok 


CHAPTER    IV.      FROM    SALE    OF    OLD    CHURCH  TO 
ROUSING  OF  A  MISSIONARY  SPIRIT,  1863-1865. 

A  handbill  poster  about  twelve  inches  by  nine  was  printed 
about  this  time  and  placed  on  the  fences  of  Frankford,  and  read 
as  follows :  "The  Frankford  United  Presbyterian  Church  hav- 
ing disposed  of  their  former  building  and  grounds  and  pur- 
chased a  site  on  Paul  street,  will  worship  in  Wright's  Institute 
until  the  erection  of  their  new  edifice.  Public  worship  on  Sab- 
bath 10^  o'clock  A.  M. ;  33^  P.  M. ;  Sabbath  School  2>4  P.  M. 
The  public  are  affectionately  invited."  After  it  was  resolved  to 
sell  the  old  building  and  purchase  lots  for  a  new  one  elsewhere, 
plans  were  adopted  for  collecting  money  for  the  work.  On  Feb. 
23d  the  pastor  prepared  for  himself  four  collecting  books ;  one 
for  amounts  of  $5  and  upwards ;  one  each  for  $3  and  $2  and  $1 
subscriptions ;  the  reason  for  four  books  and  the  manner  of  work- 
ing them  may  be  explained  elsewhere.  A  circular  being  the  first 
of  a  series  was  also  drawn  up  by  the  pastor,  explaining  the  con- 
gregation's condition  and  needs ;  this  being  note  size  and  printed 
on  fine  paper  with  a  space  at  the  bottom  for  correspondence,  was 
sometimes  sent  by  post  to  pastors  (or  individuals  who  could  not 
be  visited)  to  introduce  the  cause  and  agent.  Circular  No.  i  was 
as  follows : 

"FRANKFORD,  PHILADELPHIA,  UNITED  PRESBY- 
TERIAN CHURCH,  James  Price,  pastor.  The  members  and 
adherents  of  this  congregation  would  respectfully  beg  leave  to 
state  to  you  their  case,  and  solicit  your  sympathy  and  aid.  In 
accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  their  Presbytery,  and 
the  advice  of  many  Christian  friends,  they  have  disposed  of  their 
old  building  and  grounds,  which  were  found  to  be  very  unsuita- 
ble; and  have  purchased  and  entirely  paid  for  a  handsome  site 
for  the  erection  of  a  new  edifice.  It  is  the  intention  to  commence 
building  as  soon  as  the  necessary  arrangements  can  be  made. 

'  This  is  a  great  undertaking  for  a  congregation  still  in  its  in- 
fancy, in  the  neighborhood  of  such  a  city  as  Philadelphia ;  hence 
they  are  compelled  to  appeal  largely  to  their  beloved  brethren  in 


66  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1863 

Other  parts  of  tlie  Church,  and  to  all  who  would  like  to  assist  in 
the  enlargement  of  Christ's  Kingdom.  Their  solicitations  so  far 
have  been  almost  without  an  exception,  nobly  and  liberally  re- 
sponded to.  It  may  also  be  stated,  that,  before  presenting  their 
plea  to  others,  they  have  largely  and  self-deniedly  exerted  them- 
selves. Mechanics,  depending  on  their  daily  labor  for  supix)rt, 
have  pledged  themselves  to  pay  Fifty  Dollars,  and  females,  who 
earn  their  bread  by  their  needle.  Twenty-five  Dollars." 

After  having  received  liberal  subscriptions  from  the  people 
of  the  7th  congregation  as  shown  in  the  above  circular,  the  pastor 
began  in  earnest  about  March  i,  1863,  to  collect  from  outside 
congregations ;  those  of  Philadelphia  being  first  explored.  The 
first  congregation  to  be  visited  was  the  Eighth  Philadelphia.  Rev. 
W.  W.  Barr,  tJie  pastor;  and  the  others  came  in  their  turn,  in- 
cluding those  of  Baltimore,  Oxford  and  Octoraro.  The  work 
was  a  laborious  one,  going  from  house  to  house  among  strange 
people  to  ask  for  their  money. 

About  the  middle  of  April  the  pastor  started  on  a  collecting 
tour  to  the  western  part  of  Pennsylvania,  visiting  a  number  of 
congregations  in  and  around  Pittsburg,  returning  at  the  close  of 
June  and  bringing  back  for  the  new  building  $836.60.  To  help  to 
introduce  the  agent  and  his  work  to  the  congregation,  the  United 
Presbyterian,  published  at  Pittsburg,  in  one  of  its  April  issues 
had  a  notice,  of  which  this  is  the  substance:  "Some  few  weeks 
ago  we  published  the  circular  of  tlie  Frankford  United  Presby- 
terian Church,  stating  tliat  they  were  about  to  erect  a  new  build- 
ing and  had  received  authority  from  the  Board  of  Church  Ex- 
tension to  visit  the  congregations.  We  would  now  state  tliat 
Rev.  James  Price  has  arrived  in  our  vicinity  on  this  mission.  Al- 
though there  may  be  many  other  calls,  let  not  this  one  be  over- 
looked, since  it  has  the  approbation  of  the  Board  of  Church  Ex- 
tension." From  tlie  middle  of  March  to  December  26th  of  tliis 
year  the  amount  collected,  almost  entirely  through  the  efforts  of 
the  pastor,  was  $2112,  and  this  did  not  include  the  proceeds  of 
the  Fair  held  during  the  closing  days  of  the  year;  it  did,  how- 
ever, include  $100  from  George  R.  Skilton,  a  member  of  Pres- 
bytery's Committee  above  mentioned,  and  $250  from  Margaret 
Livingston,  an  eccentric  lady  who  made  her  home  at  Rev.  Francis 
Church's  house,  and  doubtless  the  latter  may  have  influenced  hfs 
lodger  to  make  this  donation. 

To  show  the  interest  which  now  began  to  be  felt  in  the  im- 


1863  FROM  SAIvD  TO  MISSIONARY  REVIVAL.  57 

provement  of  the  praise  service,  the  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Con- 
gregation was,  by  the  Presbytery,  made  chairman  of  a  Committee 
to  memorialize  the  General  Assembly  for  a  new  version  of  the 
Psalms,  and  to  arrange  to  have  them  chanted  in  the  prose.  This 
memorial  prepared  by  Mr.  Price  will  be  found  in  General  Assem- 
blys  minutes  for  1863,  page  132.  It  may  here  be  stated  that  the 
chorister  of  the  Seventh  Church  at  this  time  was  a  Mr.  Shaw, 
whose  remuneration  was  $30  a  year,  paid  quarterly.  On  July 
26th,  1863,  the  pastor  preached  to  a  great  multitude. of  soldiers 
and  visitors  in  the  then  open  lots  south  of  Harrison  street  and 
near  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  William  Martin,  the  text  of  the 
sermon  being,  "Fight  the  good  fight  of  faith.'     i  Tim.  6:12. 

On  December  nth  Rev.  John  B.  Clark,  pastor  of  the  Second 
United  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Allegheny,  and  Colonel  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Regiment,  P.  V.  Anny  of 
the  Potomac,  delivered  a  lecture  on  the  American  Rebellion  in 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  Frankford,  for  tlie  benefit  of  the  Building 
Fund  of  the  Seventh  Church. 

The  first  Fair  ever  held  by  the  Frankford  United  Presby- 
terian Church  was  got  up  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  its  new  build- 
ing ;  it  was  largely  planned  by  Margaretta  M.  Cooper  after  months 
of  previous  sewing,  soliciting  and  the  like,  and  was  held  in 
Wright's  Institute.  The  following  circular,  which  was  printed 
and  distributed  previously,  will  fully  show  the  nature  of  the  ef- 
fort: 

FAIR  OF  THE  FRANKFORD  UNITED  PRESBYTE- 
RIAN CHURCH.  The  ladies  connected  with  this  congregation 
propose  holding  a  Fair  in  Weight's  Institute,  commencing  De- 
cember (Thursday)  24th,  1863,  in  aid  of  their  new  building. 
They  would  earnestly  solicit  the  co-operation  of  their  friends  be- 
longing to  other  Christian  denominations,  as  well  as  the  sympa- 
thy and  gifts  of  all  benevolent  individuals.  Contributions  in 
money  most  thankfully  received,  together  with  donations  of  use- 
ful and  fancy  articles,  consisting  of  Clothing,  Provisions,  Furni- 
ture, China-Ware,  Perfumery,  Confections,  Books,  Stationery, 
Pictures,  etc. 

MRS.  MAGGIE  M.  TAYLOR, 

MRS.  ANN  JANE  LACKEY, 

MRS.  MARGARETTA  M.  COOPER, 

Committee. 

The  year  1864  was  not  only  one  of  growing  liberality  in  the 
congregation,  but  of  devising  ways  and  means  for  systematically 


68  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1864 

drawing  out  the  offerings  of  the  people  to  sustain  religion.  The 
abolishment  of  pew  rents  and  the  adoption  of  a  more  scriptural 
plan  of  churcli  sup]X)rt  recommended  by  the  Session  and  Board 
of  Trustees  was  likely  adopted  at  this  annual  meeting,  as  shown 
by  the  followiiij;  circular  luid  accompanying  subscription  pay- 
ment receipt  card : 

"January  i,  1864. 
To  the  Members,  Adherents  and  Friends  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Frankford. 
Dear  Brethren : 

The  undersigned,  the  Trustees  of  the  congregation,  find  by 
the  Treasurer's  report  for  last  year  just  handed  in,  that  the  in- 
come from  pew  rents,  collections  and  Mite  Society,  do  not  meet 
the  expenditures  necessary  to  the. support  of  God's  cause  among 
us.  It  is  believed  that  all  that  is  necessary  to  rectify  this  matter 
is  to  lay  the  state  of  the  case  before  the  congregation  ;  together 
with  some  change  in  the  mode  of  collecting  the  offerings  of  God's 
people  to  His  cause.  Pew  rents  may  answer  in  an  old  established 
congregation,  but  they  do  not  reach  all  in  a  Mission  Church.  It 
is  proposed  to  do  away  with  them  in  this  congregation  and  to  have 
persons  subscribe  what  tliey  are  able  to  give  annually.  We  think 
it  best  to  have  a  common  FUND,  into  which  subscriptions  and 
collections  (excepting  those  for  missions  and  the  poor)  shall  be 
thrown,  and  out  of  which  all  expenses  of  the  congregation  shall 
be  paid.  By  the  most  economical  calculation,  we  estimate  that 
SIX  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  will  be  required,  and  is  the  small- 
est amount  with  which  we  can  hope  to  meet  our  actual  expendi- 
tures for  the  present  year. 

The  liberality  of  our  General  Assembly,  with  the  ordinary 
collections,  may  reduce  it,  say,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  leav- 
ing the  balance  to  be  provided  for  by  subscription.  In  a  few 
days  a  sul)scri])tion  book,  with  card,  will  be  presented  to  you. 
Think  of  the  amount  wanted  for  the  coming  year,  and,  in  memory 
of  God's  goodness  to  you,  put  your  name  down  for  as  much  as 
you  can  spare,  to  be  paid  to  the  treasurer  the  last  day  of  each 
month. 

You  may  think  the  amount  to  be  raised  large  for  a  people 
so  few  and  humble,  but  only  let  eacli  one  give  as  God  has  pros- 
pered him  and  there  is  no  fear  but  the  amount  will  be  met.  The 
burden  will  be  lighter  as  God  is  pleased  to  enlarge  the  congre- 
gation. It  woiild  be  a  lasting  shame  to  us  and  to  our  children  to  let 
our  beloved  Zion  suffer  for  a  little  of  our  earthly  goods ;  it  is  our 
highest  privilege  to  sustain  her.  Brethren,  it  is  the  cause  of 
God,  the  cause  of  truth,  the  welfare  of  your  souls,  and  of  those 
dear  to  you  we  plead.     "The  liberal  soul  deviseth  liberal  things, 


1864 


FROM  sale;  to  missionary  revival. 


59 


and  by  liberal  things  shall  he  stand."     "See  that  ye  abound  in  this 
grace  also." 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

DANIEL  GALBREATH,  President. 

The  card  above  referred  to,  with  its  subscription  side,  is  as 
follows,  the  sample  card  being  that  of  the  pastor : 


'Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  let  every  one  ot  you  lay  by  him  in  store 
as  God  hath  prospered  him,  so  that  there  be  no  gatherings  when  I 
come.— I  Cor.  16-2- 

thy  sub- 
•st  fruits 
' — Prov 

Frankford,  January  i,  1864. 

"Of  all  t 
I  will 
unto  T 

To  support  the  cause  of  God,  in  connec- 

CD  a   9!    1 

CD  :::  ^  1 

)r  the  Lord  w 
3e  and  with  tl 
1  thine  incres 

tion  with  the  Frankford  United  Presbyterian 
Church  for  the  year  1864,  James  Price  prom- 
ises to  give  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars,   to  be 

thou  shal 
ely  give 
"—Gen.  2 

punctually  paid  to  the    treasurer,  in    equal 

GO     <r>-    ^ 

payments,  the  last  dav  of  each  month. 

to  _  < 
•      CD    * 

[]^   OC   O  CO 

"Every  r 
ingly 

nan  as  he  purposeth  in  his  heart,  so  let  him  give  :    not 
,  or  ot  necessity,  lor  God  loveth  a  cheerful  giver." — IIC< 

grudg- 
3r.  9:  7. 

The  reverse  or  payment  receipt  side  of  the  card  is  as  follows 


03   U 


Pay  Promptly  the  Last  Day  of  Each  Month 


1864                         FRANKFORD                          1864 

Received  by  the  Treasurer  of  James   Price,  for 
the  support   of  God's  cause,  in  connection  with  the 
Frankford  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

Jan.  $4     Dan'l  Murphy, 
Feb.    4                            Treas. 
Mar.   4 
April  4 
May   4 
June  4 

?24 

July   $4    Dan'l  Murphy, 

Aug.      4                          Treas. 

Sept.     4 

Oct.       4 

Nov.      4 

Dec.       6    Dan'l  Murphy 

$26               $50 

3 


*  My  property  belongs  to  God."  Sam'l  Kennedy,  A  Workingman  of  Phila. 


60  sEVKXTii  uxiTKi)  1"Ki:si!vti:ki.\n  ciurcii.  lSf;4 

The  United  Presbyterian  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  found, 
as  is  too  often  the  case,  tliat  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  too  much  neglected  by  the  followers  of  the  Saviour;  and  so, 
at  its  meeting  March  28,  1864,  the  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Church 
was  made  chairman  of  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  pastoral  letter 
on  "Xon-Attcndancc  at  Communion  Services."  This  was  pre- 
pared and  the  Presbytery  directed  that  two  thousand  cojiies  be 
published  in  tract  fomi,  for  distribution  among  the  congregations. 
The  tract  is  long  since  out  of  print,  but  a  cojjy  will  be  found  in 
the  Scrap  Book  Souvenir.  , 

The  pastor,  seeing  that  church  members  need  every  proper 
stimulant  to  work,  especially  when  a  new  churdi  is  to  be  erected, 
about  April  i  of  this  year  organized  a  Church  Working  Society, 
with  a  constitution  and  with  tlie  usual  oflficers.  The  Association 
was  styled  The  Church  Erection  and  Pastor's  Aid  Society. 

The  pastor  made  two  collecting  trips  West  this  year,  the  first 
being  a  short  one,  in  the  month  of  May,  to  Allegheny,  Pa.,  and 
vicinity,  where  some  five  congregations  were  visited,  including 
that  of  Dr.  John  T.  Pressly,  the  proceeds  of  the  four  weeks'  work 
amounting  to  $281.25. 

A  long  trip  was  also  made  this  year,  the  longest  in  the  whole 
history  of  the  collecting  work,  and  financially  the  most  successful, 
covering  three  months,  and  yielding  the  handsome  sum  of 
$2056.20,  more  than  the  total  amount  received  by  the  treasurer 
of  the  Board  of  Church  Extension  from  the  whole  Church  for  this 
year.  The  pastor  began  his  journey  in  the  heat  of  August,  and 
did  not  return  till  the  middle  of  November,  when  winter  frosts 
covered  the  ground,  he  having  traveled  and  collectctl  in  three 
States,  Pennsylvania,  West  \'irginia  and  Ohio. 

The  number  of  new  names  added  to  the  membership  roll  this 
year  was  twenty,  mostly  by  profession.  The  '"Presbyterian,"  of 
Philadelphia,  in  its  issue  of  January  14.  1865,  noticing  our  De- 
cember, 1864,  accession,  says:  "In  the  Rev.  James  Price's  Church, 
Frankford,  near  Philadeli)liia,  on  the  i8th  of  December,  fifteen 
persons  were  received  into  the  church,  mostly  f)n  jirofession. 
This  church  is  in  the  United  Presbyterian  connection.  It  is  in  its 
infancy,  but  gives  i)romise  of  a  vigorous  growth." 

The  Sabbatli  sch(X)l  of  the  congregation  was  quite  encourag. 
ing  this  year ;  it  was  under  the  superintendence  of  the  pastor,  had 
six  officers,  eighteen  teachers,  among  whom  were  Elizabeth  Bell, 
Margaret  M.  and  Mary  Cooper,  Margaret  Jane  Blythe,  Jane  Rich- 


1864  FROM  sale:  to  missionary  revival.  61 

mond,  Rachel  Wolf,  Alary  and  Josephine  Wood,  Margaret  M. 
Taylor,  Emma  Fisher,  Daniel  Murphy,  Samuel  Sykes,  Richard 
and  Alexander  Lackey,  Alexander  Murray,  William  Finley. 
There  were  twelve  female  classes,  including  a  colored  one,  and 
six  male,  including  a  young  men's  class.  The  number  of  scholars 
on  the  roll  was  135.  The  number  oi  Sabbath  school  papers  re- 
ceived was  100,  and  the  oflferings  for  the  year  ending  April  ist 
were  seventy  dollars. 

The  contributions  of  the  congregation  this  year  were  in  most 
respects  more  encouraging  than  in  any  preceding  one.  Pew  rents 
and  congregational  subscriptions  amounted  to^  over  $400.  The 
Mite  and  Sewing  Societies  contributed  $100,  and  the  same  amount 
was  received  from  the  General  Assembly,  enabling  the  congre- 
gation to  support  the  pastor  to  the  extent  of  the  original  call,  $600. 
Additional  offerings  were  given  as  follows:  For  poor,  $17;  mis- 
sions, $21;  Christian  Commission,  $31;  building  fund,  $166.38; 
making  a  total  of  $1235,  or  an  average  per  member  of  $18.75,  the 
largest  in  the  Presbytery.  The  proceeds  of  the  fair  of  Decem- 
ber, 1863,  ""^  Wright's  Institute,  were  $500.  The  amount  secured 
(by  the  pastor  chiefly)  for  the  new  building  in  the  year  1864,  was 
$2713.40,  and  since  the  work  of  collecting  began,  in  March,  1863, 
to  December,  1864,  we  had  paid  into  the  building  fund  $4924.20. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year  1863,  or  during  1864,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Baird,  a  well-known  and  benevolent  manufacturer  of  Frank- 
ford,  seeing  that  the  congregation  was  holding  its  services  in 
Wright's  Institute,  and  paying  rent  therefor,  invited  the  pastor 
and  his  people  to  occupy  a  very  neat  and  suitable  hall  in  connec- 
tion with  his  factory,  on  Frankford  Avenue  below  Green  street. 
The  invitation  was  gladly  and  thankfully  accepted,  because  fur- 
nished without  cost,  and  there  the  congregation  remained  until 
the  lecture  room  of  the  new  Orthodox  street  Church  was  opened, 
in  the  year  1869.  Our  congregation  was  frequently  from  this 
time  forward  placed  under  obligations  to  Mr.  Baird  for  favors, 
such  as  the  use  of  his  small  or  larger  hall  free  of  charge  for  fairs, 
suppers,  concerts  and  the  like.  It  was  also  stated  by  the  late  Ed- 
ward F.  Borie,  Esq.,  an  attorney  of  Frankford,  that  he  wrote 
Mr.  Baird's  will  some  years  before  the  death  of  the  latter,  and 
that  in  it  he  bequeathed  to  Rev.  Thomas  Murphy,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Frankford,  and  to  Pastor  James  Price 
$100  each  annually  during  their  lives ;  but  that  he  afterward 
changed  his  will  and  withdrew  these  amounts. 


62  SEVENTH    UNITI'D    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  180^ 

Although  no  collcctini^  tours  outside  of  tlic  city  were  made 
by  the  pastor  this  year  for  the  new  huikUngs,  yet  through  the 
working  of  machiner\'  at  home,  such  as  circulars.  Pastor's  Aid 
and  Church  Erection  Society,  $403.25  was  received.  Part  of 
this  also  came  from  Ohio,  as  the  fruit  of  the  pastor's  long  journey 
tliere  the  preceding  year.  Cirailars  in  letter  form  sent  by  the 
pastor  to  the  following  persons  brought  back  checks  as  follows : 
The  Misses  Ellen  and  Margaret  Mclntyre.  Perth  Centre,  N.  Y., 
$100 ;  Thbmas  B.  Rich.  Esq.,  New  York  City,  treasurer  of  the 
U.  P.  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  $50 ;  J.  G.  Reed,  Esq.,  manager 
of  the  Cameron  Oil  Company,  Oil  City,  Pa..  $25.  These  kind 
friends  the  pastor  had  never  seen.  His  letter  circular  was  at  once 
the  visitor  and  speaker,  and  it  successfully  did  the  soliciting.  Col- 
lecting Circular  No.  2  was  the  same  as  No.  i,  with  a  short  list 
of  congregational  and  individual  contributors  printed  on  the  back 
in  1864.     Here  is  an  extract  of  No.  3 : 

This  congregation,  although  in  its  infancy,  has  received  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  and  fifty  members  since  its  organization, 
and  at  present  numbers  upward  of  a  hundred.  Tt  has  no  church 
building,  jniljlic  worship  being  held  in  a  liall.  A  handsome  site, 
however,  has  been  secured  on  Paul  street,  and  paid  for,  and  a 
great  portion  of  the  means  necessary  for  the  erection  of  a  house 
of  worship  is  also  on  hand.  Recommendations  of  Drs.  Dales, 
Cooper  and  George  H.  Stuart  follow : 

Circular  No.  4  is  as  follows : 

"Frankford,  Philadelphia,  .\pril  i,  1865. 
"The  work  in  the  bounds  of  this  congregation  is  now  ex- 
tremely interesting.  Twenty-seven  persons  were  added  to  the 
niembershi])  of  the  church  during  the  first  three  months  of  this 
year,  the  majority  of  them  by  profession.  The  room  on  a  good 
day  is  crowded,  and  a  suitable  building  is  very  much  needed.  For 
the  erection  of  the  plainest  one  at  least  $5000  additional  are  re- 
quired." 

The  following,  selected  from  many  others  in  various  parts 
of  the  country,  are  the  names  of  contributors  outside  of  the  bountls 
of  the  congregation : 

Miss  Margaret  Livingston,  Philadelphia $260.00 

Messrs.  A,  &  G.  Skilton,  Philadelphia 120.00 

Thomas  Stinson,  Philadelphia 100.00 

William  S.  Young,  Philadelphia 100.00 

John   CcK'hran,   Philadelphia    50.00 

Miss  Fannie  Stevenson,  Philadelphia 75-00 


1865  FROM  sale:  to  missionary  re;vival.  63 

Mrs.  Sarah  R.  Hanna,  Washington,  Pa 50.00 

Archibald  Cooper,  San  Francisco,  Cal 50.00 

The  Misses  Young,  Philadelphia 45-0O 

James  McCandless,  Pittsburg,  Pa 45-0O 

John  Dean,  Allegheny  City,  Pa 35-00 

Rev.  J.  T.  Cooper,  D.  D.,  Philadelphia 37-00 

T.  D.  Anderson  &  Bro.,  Baltimore,  Md 30.00 

John  Clark,  Philadelphia   25.00 

Mrs.  Charles  Camlos,  Philadelphia 25.00 

Charles  McClean,  Philadelphia 25.00- 

Isaac  McGay,  New  York 25.00 

James  Hamilton,  Cincinnati 25.00 

Messrs.  A.  Br)xe  &  Co.,  Birmingham,  Pa 25.00 

Thomas  Sweeney  &  Son,  Wheeling,  W.  Va 25.00 

Robert  Paul,  Philadelphia 20.00 

Samuel  C.  Huey,  Philadelphia 20.00 

Samuel  Kennedy.  Philadelphia 20.00 

John  M.  Wallace,  New  York 20.00 

David  Gregg,  Pittsburg,  Pa 20.00 

Messrs.  J.  B.  &  C.  Herron,  Allegheny  City,  Pa 2d.oo 

Messrs.  R.  &  T.  Jamison,  Allegheny  City,  Pa 20.00 

T.  &  R.  Forsythe,  Washington,  O 20.00 

Messrs.  Patterson,  Cove,  Pa 20.00 

The  following  acknowledgement  oi  monies  received  for  the 
Frankford  Church  building  by  the  pastor,  James  Price,  during 
portions  of  1863  to  1865  was  this  year  published  in  "The  Pres- 
byterian Witness,"  of  Cincinnati,  one  of  our  denominational  pa- 
pers of  that  day,  and  it  also  appeared  in  the  "United  Presbyterian," 
of  Pittsburg,  in  its  issue  of  June  14,  1865  : 

"ACKNOWLEDGMENTS— FRANKFORD  U.  P.  CHURCH, 
PHILADELPHIA. 

"The  pastor  of  the  Frankford  U.  P.  Church  begs  leave  to 
acknowledge  the  following  amounts,  received  in  aid  of  the  build- 
ing. The  kindness  of  ministers,  elders  and  others  who  aided  in 
the  work  by  hospitality,  personal  exertion,  kind  words,  etc.,  can 
never  be  forgotten.  The  congregation  is  now  in  a  prosperous 
condition,  twenty-seven  members  having  been  added  during  the 
past  few  months.  The  Sabbath  school  is  very  interesting,  thir- 
teen having  united  with  the  church  during  the  year.  The  build- 
ing will  be  commenced  next  spring.  About  five  thousand  dollars 
are  yet  needed,  so  as  to  prevent  debt.  Contributions  which  will 
be  promptly  acknowledged,  may  be  sent  to  Daniel  Murphy,  130 
Main  street,  Frankford,  Philadelphia,  or  to  the  pastor,  same  ad- 
dress . 

PHILADELPHIA  PRESBYTERY— First  Church  Phila- 
delphia, $178;  Second  Church  Philadelphia,  $104;  Third,  $191; 


64  SEVENTH    UMTKD    rUESBYTlCRIAN    CHURCH.  1865 

Fourth,  $5;  Fifth.  $85;  Sixth,  $71:   Kij^^hth,  $123;  Ninth,  $55; 
Oxford  Church,  $21  ;  Octorara,  $44. 

MONOXGAHELA  PRESBYTJlRY— First  Church,  Pitts- 
burg, $84.50;  Second,  $25;  Third,  $68;  Fifth,  $1  ;  East  Liberty 
Church,  $32.50;  Hebron.  $29.70;  Peters  Creek,  $60.75;  Birming- 
ham, $129;  Union,  $80;  Robinson's  Run.  $43.50. 

FRANKFORT  PRESBYTERY— Frankfort  Church,  $13; 
Hanover,  $25.50;  Hookstown.  $18.45. 

ALLEGHENY  PRESBYTERY— First  Church,  Allegheny, 
$121.75  ;  Second,  $85  ;  Third,  $49.65  ;  Manchester,  $12. 

CHARTIERS  PRESBYTERY— Heads  of  Wheeling,  $5; 
Chartiers,  $90;  Canonsburgh,  $52.04;  Centre,  $58.50;  Mt.  Pros- 
pect, $4;  \\'ashington.  $112.50;  Venice,  $41.50. 

WHEELING  PRESBYTERY^- Belmont,  $28;  High 
Ridge,  43;  St.  Clairsville,  $85;  West  Alexander,  $148.50;  Wheel- 
ing. $127.50;  Middle  Wheeling.  $3;  Uniontown,  $9;  Cassvillc,  $3; 
Centreville,  2;  Martinsburgh,  $1. 

MUSKINGUM  PRESBYTERY— Salt  Creek,  $68.50;  Fair- 
view,  $81.75;  Concord,  $111.25;  Bloomfield,  $85.20;  Norwich, 
$40;  East  Union,  $29;  Jonathan's  Creek,  $46;  Washington, 
$72.50;  Salem.  $86.80;  Ridge,  $15;  Hermon,  $60.60;  Lebanon, 
$71.70;   Barlow,   $10. 

FIRST  PRESBYTERY  OF  OHIO— First  Church  Cincin- 
nati, $84.50;  Second,  $47;  Mission,  $87;  Oxford,  $36;  Sycamore, 
$31;  Mt.  Pleasant.  $58.50;  Hamilton,  $101;  Fairhaven,  $121.25; 
Hopewell,  $263. 

A  band  of  ladies  of  the  congregation,  assisted  by  persons 
from  nearly  every  denomination  in  the  place,  were  now  at  work, 
meeting  weekly  to  sew  for  the  new  building,  in  which  effort  we 
had  also  the  hearty  sympathy  and  substantial  aid  of  the  people 
of  the  New  Jerusalem,  or  Swedenborgian,  and  Roman  Catholic 
Churches  of  Frankford.  After  months  of  hard  work  thus  pre- 
paring, a  fair  was  held  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  beginning  June  10. 
The  cirailar  had  the  names  of  Mrs.  Eliza  Duffield,  Mrs.  Cooper, 
etc. 

To  show  the  interest  which  was  felt  in  our  Frankford  con- 
gregation and  its  pastor  by  other  denominations,  we  may  be  per- 
mitted to  state  that  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Frankford  held 
a  fair  in  December,  1864,  and  at  its  close  the  pastor  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  received  from  its  managers  and  their  priest 
a  beautiful  wrapper,  with  the  following  note : 

"Frankford,  January  7,  1865. 
"To  Rev.  James  Price,  with  the  compliments  of  the  Rev.  John 


1866  FROM  SALE  TO  MISSIONARY  REVIVAL.  65 

McGovern,  priest,  and  the  ladies  of  the  fair,  as  a  token  of  our 
■esteem." 

This  priest,  since  deceased,  was  on  very  friendly  terms  with 
Mr.  Price,  having  on  one  occasion  invited  him  to  tea  in  his  (the 
priest's)  house,  which  invitation  was  accepted.  On  another  fair 
•occasion,  a  beautiful  wrapper  was  sent  to  Pastor  Price  by  the 
ladies  of  the  Frankford  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  addition  to  our  fair  a  musical  entertainment,  accompanied 
by  refreshments,  was  also  given  this  year  in  Baird's  Hall,  the 
•cards  of  admission  being  fifty  cents.  Number  limited  and  not  for 
sale  at  the  door.  The  presence  of  Will  Smith  helped,  as  usual, 
to  dispose  of  the  tickets. 

But  another  element  which  contributed  to  the  success  of  the 
Frankford  U.  P.  Church  entertainments  was  the  accomplished 
ladies  at  their  head.  These  efforts  hence  came  to  be  popular  and 
to  have  a  name  for  excellence  surpassing  those  of  sister  congre- 
gations in  Frankford.  At  this  last  entertainment  between  200 
and  300  persons  were  present,  and  the  net  proceeds  amounted  to 
one  hundred  dollars. 

The  liberality  and  missionary  spirit  of  the  congregation  were 
this  year  displayed  to  a  very  commendable  degree.  About  the 
1st  of  January,  as  far  as  the  writer  recollects,  either  at  a  Pres- 
bytery or  some  public  meeting,  it  was  proposed  to  try  and  have 
our  Philadelphia  U.  P.  congregations  raise  $5000  as  an  extra 
■offering  for  foreign  missions.  The  proposal  was  adopted  and  the 
amount  was  apportioned  to  the  congregations  according  to  their 
membership,  the  amoimt  to  be  raised  by  the  Frankford  Church 
'being  $145.  But  we  never  had  been  able  in  past  years  to  even 
reach  one-third  of  this  amount  for  that  Board,  and  so  when  the 
pastor  returned  from  the  meeting  and  announced  to  a  little  com- 
pany of  the  people,  at  perhaps  a  prayer  gathering,  what  we  had 
to  raise,  one  of  the  witty  ladies  present — Miss  Ellen  D.  J.  Hoag- 
•land,  remarked :  "I  know  of  no  way  that  we  can  get  that  amount 
imless  we  knock  sorhe  man  down  on  the  street."  Well,  the  fol- 
lowing subscription  paper  shows  that  without  committing  an  as- 
sault on  anyone  we  raised  the  amount,  and  had  $6.90  over. 

JANUARY  I,  1865— COLLECTION  FOR  FOREIGN  MIS- 
SIONS, ASSESSMENT  SEVENTH  CHURCH,  $145. 

Daniel  Murphy,  paid. .  .  .$25.00    Robert  Murray,  paid. ...   $1.00 

Alex.  Lackey,  paid 25.00    Archibald  Graham,  paid,      i.oo 

James  Price,  paid 20.00    James  Smith,  paid i.oo 


66  SEVENTH    UNITKD    rKI-SUYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1865 

R.  II.  Lackey,  paid 12.50  Eliza  Latimer,  paid i.oo 

Sarah  Lackey,  paid I-2.50  Jaiie   Mackcy,   paid i.oo 

Robt.  S.  Browning,  paid .  5.00  Theresa  Buckhister,  paid     i.oo 

Daniel   Galbraith,  paid..  5.00  Annie  Scott,  paid i.oo 

JMargaretta  M.  Cooper,  pd,  5.00  Agnes  Lesher,  paid i.oo 

Thomas  B.  Taylor,  paid.  5.00  Robena  Anderson,  paid,      i.oo 

John  Houston,  i)ai(l....  5.00  Cash,   paid    1.15 

Alex.  Murray,  paid 2.00  Ellen  Fulton,  paid 50 

Martha  Mortimer,  paid.  2.00  Maggie  Wolf,  paid 50 

Samuel   Sykes,   paid....  2.00  William  Wolf,  paid 50 

William  Findley,  paid.  .  .  2.00  Jane   Smiley,  paid 50 

John   Charnley,  paid....  2.00  Margaret  Arnold,  paid.  .        .50 

Sarah   Chamlcy,  paid...  2.00  Jane  Shuttlcworth,  paid.        .50 

Josephine   Wood,  paid.,  i.oo  Emma  Fisher,  paid 25 

Mary  Wood,  paid i.oo  Betsy    Fisher,   paid 25 

Margaret   Blythe,  paid.,  i.oo  Lizzy  Martin,  paid 25 

Joseph   Mackey,  paid...  i.oo  Virginia  Whittington,  paid  i.oo 

Rachel  Wolf,  paid i.oo                                               

$151.90 

Seeing  what  latent  congregational  liberality  we  had  stirred  up 
we  determined  to  alter  our  method  of  securing  offerings  for  mis- 
sions as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  circular: 

"CIRCULAR. 

"Frankford,  September  i,  1865. 
"To  the  Members  and  Adherents  of  the  Frankford  U.  P.  Church. 

"Dear  Brethren : — You  are  aware  that  in  our  congregation 
we  have  usually  taken  up  collections  for  the  various  Mission 
Boards  of  our  church,  on  special  Sabbaths  during  the  year.  But 
on  consultation  with  some  of  the  members,  and  recollecting  the 
liberality  of  the  congregation  at  our  last  collection  for  foreign  mis- 
sions, we  propose  this  year  to  take  up  one  subscription  and  col- 
lection, payable  at  tlie  time,  the  whole  amount  required  from  us 
for  all  the  Boards  for  the  year. 

"The  whole  amoimt  which  the  Assembly  wants  for  the  carry- 
ing on  of  its  operations  for  the  year  is  $177,400.  Our  proportion 
of  this  amount,  according  to  our  membership,  is  $265.  The  ob- 
jects to  which  we  are  asked  to  contribute  arc  as  follows :  Our 
BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS,  which  has  stations  in  India. 
Syria,  Cliina,  Italy  and  Trinidad  Island,  with  29  missionaries  in 
the  field,  and  whose  work  is  extremelv  interesting,  wants  $86,800. 
Our  BOARD  OF  HOME  MISSIONS,  whose  work  is  to  furnish 
weak  congregations  with  aid  to  support  ordinances  among  them, 
from  which  our  own  congregation  has  been  receiving  aid  ever  since 
its  organization,  which  has  about  130  missionaries  scattered  over 
our  own  country,  and  aids  upward  of  200  congregations  annually, 
wants  $33,000.'  Our  BOARD  OF  MISSIONS  TO  THE 
FREEDMEN,  which  has  six  stations,  64  missionaries  and  teax:h- 


1865  FROM  sale;  to  missionary  revival.  67 

ers,  2880  schoilars,  one  of  the  stations  being  on  the  former  planta- 
tion of  Jefferson  Davis,  wants  $22,000.  The  BOARD  OF 
CHURCH  EXTENSION,  whose  object  is  to  assist  weak  churches 
in  erecting  houses  of  worship,  under  whose  direction  during  the 
past  few  years  we  in  this  congregation  have  collected  some  $5000, 
wants  $20,000.  The  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION,  which  takes 
up  poor  but  pious  young  men  and  educates  them  for  the  ministry, 
wants  $10,000.  The  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION,  which  fur- 
nishes the  churches  with  an  excellent  Christian  literature,  wants 
$5000.  And  tlie  Assembly  asks  for  its  own  expenses,  $600.  Such 
are  the  objects,  and  each  mission  is  a  noble  field  for  doing  good. 

"It  is  proposed  to  take  up  our  $265  at  our  next  Communion, 
on  the  second  Sabbath  of  November.  The  amount  may  appear 
large  for  us,  but  we  really  gave  more  for  benevolent  purposes  out- 
side O'f  the  congregation,  last  year.  Neither  the  Assembly  nor  the 
Presbytery  want  to  lay  a  burden  upon  us  which  we  caimot  bear. 
With  the  rest  of  our  fellow  members  all  over  the  Church,  let  us 
do  our  duty  and  uphold  our  congregation's  reputation  for  liberalit}'. 
We  would  suggest  that  every  member  and  friend  of  God's  cause 
at  home  and  abroad  lay  up  something  each  week  for  this  collec- 
tion, and  that  parents  furnish  every  member  of  the  family  with 
somediing  to  give.  We  affectionately  ask  the  children  of  the 
church  to  prepare  themselves  to  contribute  when  the  time  comes. 
Let  each  of  them  have  a  mission  box  at  home.  We  ask  attention 
to  the  following,  adopted  by  tlie  General  Assembly : 

"First — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  member  of  the  Church 
to  give  annually  to  each  of  the  funds  of  the  Church  as  God  may 
prosper  him. 

"Second — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  officers  of  the  Church 
to  see  that  every  member  of  their  respective  congregations  is 
afforded  an  opportunity  of  contributing  to  each  of  the  funds  at 
least  once  annually. 

"JAMES  PRICE,  Pastor. 

"DANIEL  MURPHY,  Treasurer." 

It  was  such  training  as  this  which  has  made  the  Seventh 
Church  a  General  Assembly  quota-paying  church  for  years. 


I  ■.VS'l'l  >1<     .I.V.MKS     l'KI<.'l-;.      1 -^i 


CHAPTER  V. 

FROM  THE  ROUSING  OF  A  MISSIONARY  SPIRIT  TO 
THE  FOUNDING  OF  THE  NEW  CHURCH  BUILDING 
1 865- 1 868. 

The  year  1866  was  to  the  Frankford  Church  and  its  pastor  a 
stirring,  trying,  delightful  and  blessed  one.  The  pastor,  by  at- 
tempting to  do  too  much  in  preaching  a  third  time  on  Sabbath  on 
the  streets  of  Frankford,  broke  down  through  throat  trouble,  and 
was  unable  to  occupy  the  pulpit  fully  for  months ;  but,  then,  to 
compensate  for  that,  there  was,  in  connection  with  the  Week  of 
Prayer,  a  revival  of  religion  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Churches,  including  that  of  Frankford,  shared  the  re- 
freshing showers. 

As  a  result  of  union  meetings  of  the  United  Presbyterians  of 
Philadelphia,  which  were  in  turn  held  in  the  Frankford  congrega- 
tion, our  people  were  quickened,  some  manifest  conversions  took 
place.  Prayer  meetings  in  our  congregation  were  multiplied  from 
one  to  about  four ;  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  Wednesday  evening 
meeting  there  were  special  ones  for  careless  men,  for  young  men 
and  also  one  for  boys. 

The  pastor  did  not  do  as  much  this  year  as  during  the  past 
three  to  increase  the  Building  Fund  by  visits  to  outside  people, 
his  time  being  occupied  with  other  necessary  pastoral  work.  He 
also  aimed  toi  have  the  members  and  friends  connected  with  the 
congregation  pay  up  the  subscriptions  they  had  made  three  years 
ago.  Still  he  generally  carried  his  collecting  book  wherever  he 
went,  and  presented  it  where  he  thought  a  donation  might  be  se- 
cured. The  amount  collected  this  year,  ending  with  December, 
for  the  Building  Fund,  was  $322.10,  which  included  $100  from 
William  Welsh,  Esq.,  of  Frankford;  $100  from  Pastor  Price,  $20 
from  Benjamin  Rowland,  of  Frankford,  etc. 

The  building  collection  of  March  14,  1866,  according  to  the 
statement  of  the  collectors,  amounted  to  $642,  which  probably 
means  that  this  was  the  amount  given  by  the  people  of  the  con- 


70  SKVEXTII   UNITED   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  1866 

greg^ation,  with  some  collected  from  friends  during  the  past  three 
years.  Ever  since  the  formation  of  the  lUiilding  and  Pastor's 
Aid  Society  a  number  of  the  people  had  taken  collecting  books  and 
were  laboring  for  the  new  building.  Mr.  Price's  Diary  of  Octo- 
1)cr  1 1  has  the  following : 

"It  is  probable  there  has  been  some  talk,  or  even  proposed 
also  to  sell,  or  excliange  our  Paul  street  church  lots  on  which  it 
had  been  arranged  we  would  build  ;  for  the  record  of  Octd^er  8 
says :  "Our  Trustees  met  this  evening  and  determined  to  keep 
our  present  church  lots." 

The  pastor  at  the  beginning  of  this  year  formed  a  plan  of 
earlier  rising,  systematizing  his  studies  and  endeavoring  to  accom- 
plish more  each  day.  A  schedule  of  the  hours  of  the  day.  and  the 
engagements  of  each  was  drawn  uj)  on  a  large  card  and  ])laccd  in 
the  study ;  it  required  rising  in  the  morning  at  5  o'clock,  spending 
half  an  hour  in  devotional  exercises,  including  the  reading  of  the 
English  Scriptures  according  to  a  calendar  which  he  prepared  and 
published  this  year ;  then  five  to  ten  minutes  each  to  the  study  of 
the  Hebrew  and  Greek  Scriptures,  together  with  grammar  of  each 
and  those  also  of  French  and  German  languages.  After  break- 
fast the  first  part  of  the  forenoon  was  devoted  to  the  preparation 
of  sermons  and  some  other  studies ;  the  afternoon  had  its  lessons 
in  the  sciences,  together  with  pastoral  visiting ;  and  the  evening  for 
history  and  social  enjoyment.  For  some  weeks  this  scheme  was 
rigidly  followed,  except  when  a  late  religious  meeting  in  the 
down  town  part  of  the  city  or  a  social  party  would  interfere  with 
the  5  o'clock  rising;  but  about  the  end  of  February  the  plan  had 
to  be  finally  abandoned  because  of  the  union  prayer-meetings  of 
our  U.  P.  Philadelphia  Churches  in  connection  with  the  Week  of 
Prayer,  which  were  kept  up  nightly  for  nearly  three  months,  caus- 
ing it  often  to  be  midnight  before  one  could  retire  to  rest. 

The  pastor's  Tea  Meeting  of  February,  1862,  was  repeated 
this  year  on  Tuesday,  May  15.  About  one  hundred  and  seventy 
invitations  were  sent  out  to  members  of  the  congregation,  adher- 
ents, parents  whose  children  attended  tlie  schools  and  a  few  guests 
from  the  city ;  about  one  liundred  and  ten  persons  responded  and 
were  present.  The  refreshment  tables  are  said  to  have  been  beau- 
tiful, as  the  ladies  of  our  congregation  had  a  reputation  for  know- 
ing how  to  manage  the  matter. 

The  pastor  read  the  annual  report  of  die  congregation  and 
was  very  much  complimented  for  it  in  the  address  of  Rev.  Messrs. 
Dales,  Church,   P.arr,   Crowe  and   h'ider  Thomas   Stinson.     The 


1866  FROM  MISSIONARY  REVIVAL  TO  NEW  CHURCH.  71 

ladies  of  the  Frankford  Church  so  managed  this  entertainment 
that  the  expense  to  the  pastor  was  only  some  ten  dollars,  although 
the  actual  cost  was  nearly  forty.  Some  ten  days  after  the  pastor 
received,  through  Dr.  Dales,  forty  dollars  from  a  few  United  Pres- 
byterian ladies  of  the  city  who  had  been  present  at  the  meeting 
and  desired  to  contribute  toward  the  expense ;  the  amount  was  at 
once  invested  for  some  part  of  the  Lord's  work. 

On  Saturday,  June  30,  Mr.  William  Baird,  whose  lecture- 
room  the  congregation  was  now  occupying  for  public  worship  free 
of  charge,  gave  an  excursion  to  Atlantic  City  for  the  benefit  of  his 
employes;  he  also  kindly  donated  to  the  pastor  of  the  Frankford 
U.  P.  Church  a  number  of  railroad  and  dinner  tickets  for  some  of 
the  active  ladies  of  the  congregation,  who  accepted  the  invitation 
and  enjoyed  the  occasion.  The  writer  can  never  forget  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  Baird  during  those  years ;  and  when  his  son  James  was 
married  in  December,  1865,  Mr.  Price's  fee  was  made  seventy 
dollars  by  father  and  son  for  only  assisting  at  the  wedding.  In 
addition  to  the  hall  which  Mr.  Baird  gave  us  for  public  worship 
in  the  second  story  of  the  building  adjoining  his  mill,  he  also  fitted 
up  a  small  room  in  the  basement  under  it  for  the  use  of  our  Prim- 
ary Sabbath  School,  and  which  we  also  probably  used  for  week-day 
evening  prayer-meetings.  On  Sabbath,  July  15,  our  Primary 
school  occupied  these  new  quarters  for  the  first  time;  on  which 
occasion  a  drunken  man  in  his  endeavor  to  become  an  infant 
scholar  caused  a  panic  among  our  United  Presbyaterian  lambs. 

Mr.  Hamilton  Scott,  who  was  connected  with  one  of  the  fam- 
ilies of  the  same  name  at  Cedar  Grove  and  who  had  united  with 
the  church  at  the  March  Communion,  always  claimed  that  he  was 
converted  in  the  Frankford  U.  P.  Church  in  connection  with  the 
revival  and  union  prayer-meetings  held  in  the  spring  of  this  year ; 
he  afterward  became  a  working  and  useful  member  of  the  church ; 
and  Richard  H.  Lackey,  son  of  James  and  Sarah  Lackey,  the  first 
treasurer  of  our  mission  congregation,  came  out  and  united  with 
us  at  our  November  Communion.  This  we  felt  was  a  delightful 
work  of  God,  and  was  wrought  in  answer  to  many  prayers.  His 
dear,  aged  mother  had  often  prayed  for  him.  She  said  to  her 
pastor  a  few  days  before  she  died,  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  that 
she  had  but  one  trouble,  one  request — it  was  that  her  son  Richard 
would  confess  Christ.  He  promised  to  her  he  would.  She  did 
not  live  to  see  him  fulfill  his  promise,  but  he  did  fulfill  it  in  con- 
nection with  which  tlie  pastor's  record  says  :  "I  have  been  praying 
for  this  young  man  ten  years." 


72  SEVENTH    UMTKn    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1866 

At  the  close  of  the  Week  of  Prayer  this  year  the  United  Pres- 
b\terian  congregations  held  union  meetings  some  five  evenings 
during  the  week.  These  meetings  were  kept  up  for  nearly  three 
months ;  audience  rooms  were  generally  filled.  A  short  discourse 
of  about  twenty  minutes  was  usually  [)reached  by  some  minister^ 
then  the  meeting  was  tlirown  open  for  voluntary  exercises,  con- 
sisting of  devotional  work,  exhortations,  relating  experience  and 
standing  up  to  witness  for  Christ.  A  number  of  these  meetings 
were  held  in  the  Frankford  Church,  when  people  from  our  city 
congregations  filled  one  or  even  two  dummies,  as  our  Frankford 
steam  street  cars  were  called ;  and  crowding  also  to  its  utmost  ca- 
pacity Baird's  Hall,  our  place  of  worship.  The  first  meeting  of 
this  kind  was  held  in  our  Frankford  Congregation  on  Wednesday 
evening,  February  7,  when  the  following  ministers  were  present 
and  took  part  in  the  exercises :  Messrs.  Dales,  Barr,  Gordon,. 
Hutchinson,  Randies,  Crowe  and  Elder  William  Getty,  and  num- 
bers were  present  from  all  our  city  churches. 

One  week  later  the  pastor  makes  this  record :  "This  evening 
a  union  meeting  was  held  in  our  church  (Baird's  Hall)  ;  a  great 
many  out  from  town ;  splendid  meeting ;  three  or  four  requests 
were  handed  in  for  prayer.  God  seems  to  be  more  present  than 
ever."  Again,  one  week  later,  there  is  this  statement:  "Wednes- 
day evening,  Februar)'  21,  union  prayer-meeting;  house  crowded; 
my  own  people  generally  present  and  many  friends  from  town. 
The  meeting  was  intensely  interesting  and  solemn.  O,  that  fruits 
may  be  seen."  On  the  following  day  (Thursday)  we  have  this 
information :  "Where  I  visited  to-day  I  find  the  people  of  our 
congregation  very  anxious  for  another  union  prayer-meeting." 

On  Sabbath,  Februar}-  25,  the  record  has  this  happy  news : 
"Nearly,  if  not  everyone,  in  the  Sabbath  sciiool  to-day  promised 
to  pray  during  the  week  morning  and  evening  this  prayer:  'O, 
Lord,  save  my  soul.'  "  And  then  the  pastor  adds :  "O,  my  Father, 
hear  this  prayer." 

The  Building  Fund  was  not  forgotten  in  tliese  exciting  times, 
as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  entry :  "Monday,  February  26,. 
called  on  William  Welsh,  of  Strawberry  Hill,  at  his  office  in  Wal- 
nut street,  and  presented  to  him  tlie  case  of  our  church  building. 
He  gave  me  a  donation  of  $100.  Had  a  long  conversation  with 
him  touching  the  Christianizing  of  our  Frankford  community.  He 
gave  me  pamphlets  touching  their  work  in  the  Episcopal  Church, 
Frankford.     Mr.  J.  B.  Kodgers,  printer,  also  promised  mc  $25,  to 


1866  FROM  MISSIONARY  REJVIVAL  TO  NEW  CHURCH.  73- 

be  paid  in  six  months.."  "Thursday,  March  i,  spent  forenoon 
visiting  some  Frankford  men  on  behalf  of  our  church  building. 
Richard  Garsed  promised  me  $ioo.  Afternoon  called  on  a  rich 
Presbyterian  in  adjoining  village.  He  treated  me  roughly  and 
refused  to  give  anything." 

"Friday,  March  2,  union  prayer-meeting  in  our  Frankford 
Congregation.  I  opened  by  preaching  fifteen  minutes  from  Matt. 
II,  28,  'Come  unto  Me.'  Room  was  full.  Rev.  J.  W.  Bain,  of 
Canonsburg,  Pa.,  present.  The  meeting  was  most  solemn.  A  call 
was  made  for  any  to  stand  up  who  felt  anxious  for  salvation  or 
desired  the  prayers  of  the  meeting  for  themselves  or  friends,  when 
upward  of  twenty  rose;  a  number  of  these  were  members  of  my 
congregation.  We  ministers  remained  and  conversed  with  these 
at  the  dose.    It  was  a  great  meeting." 

The  formation  of  a  Young  Men's  Prayer  Meeting  is  thus  de- 
scribed: "Wednesday  evening,  March  7,  had  our  ordinary 
prayer-meeting  this  evening  in  Baird's  Hall.  At  its  close  I  re- 
quested Messrs.  Samuel  Sykes,  Robert  S.  Browning,  Alexander 
Galbraith,  William  Martin  and  William  Wolf  to  remain.  We  com- 
menced- a  young  people's  prayer-meeting,  and  it  was  successful ; 
the  scene  was  melting." 

"Saturday  evening,  March  10 — I  hear  of  God's  work  going _ 
on  evei;)rwhere.    O !  that  my  flock  may  be  remembered." 

"Sabbath,  March  11 — This  was  our  Sacrament  day;  upward 
of  seventy  communed;  quite  a  number  did  not;  some  sick,  some 
watching  their  dead ;  some  offended  and  some  backsliding.  Young 
men's  meeting  met  twice  and  had  general  prayer-meeting  in  even- 
ing." 

"Tuesday  evening,  March  13 — Union  prayer-meeting  in  our 
Frankford  Church.  Rev.  J.  W.  Bain  preached  a  short  opening 
sermon  from  Matt.  28,  5.  A  good  many  from  the  city.  The 
meeting  was  very  solemn,  every  minute  being  occupied.  When 
the  invitation  was  extended  for  those  to  stand  who  felt  anxious 
for  salvation  and  desired  prayers  for  themselves,  some  forty  stood 
up,  some  of  whom  were  members  of  my  congregation  and  others 
for  whom  I  have  been  praying.  Thanks  be  unto  God ;  break  hard 
hearts  still  more." 

"March  15 — I  hear  that  some  forty  are  to  be  received  into  Dr. 
Dale's  Church  next  Sabbath." 

"Sabbath,  March  18 — Did  not  feel  well  to-day,  yet  was  able 
to  preach  four  times,  two  of  the  discourses  being  very  short.  After 


74  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1 886 

morning  service  called  some  men  together  for  united  prayer. 
Some  prayed  I  never  heard  before.  At  the  close  we  all  joined 
hands,  standing  in  a  circle,  and  prayed,  using  the  Lord's  Prayer. 
We  had  three  prayer-meetings  to-day  and  I  preached  to  the  Sab- 
bath school  in  the  afternoon.  On  the  whole  a  pleasant  day.  May 
God  accompany  the  Word  to  every^  heart." 

"April  3 — Visited  some  this  evening  to  induce  theni  to  come 
to  Young  Men's  prayer  meeting  to-night ;  tliey  were  all  out  of  the 
house." 

"Wednesday  evening,  April  4 — Visited  to-day  and  talked  with 
a  number  about  their  souls.  I  started  another  prayer-meeting 
this  evening  of  men  who  live  careless  and  others  who  are  back- 
sliders. We  had  four  present.  I  was  delighted  they  appeared  so, 
also.    We  meet  again  on  Wednesday  evening  at  the  house  of  Mr. 


"Tuesday,  April  17 — Our  Young  Men's  Prayer  Meeting  was 
held  to-night  at  Mrs.  Martin's ;  fifteen  were  present.    I  bless  God." 

May  16,  Wednesday — Had  two  prayer-meetings  this  evening, 
general  one  being  at  Graham's,  which  was  very  full.  Messrs. 
Sykes  and  Scott  spoke,  when  many  were  in  tears,  Mr.  S.  in  speak- 
ing being  overcome  by  his  feelings.     My  careless  men's  meeting 

•at  the  house  of  Mr. was  very  gocxl ;  but  I  have  heard  of 

two  of  its  members  being  intoxicated.     Oh!  this  terrible  curse." 

"Sabbath,  May  20 — Beautiful  day  ;  church  tolerably  full.  Sab- 
batli  school  interesting;  fifty  boys,  fifty  girls  and  all  the  teachers 
present.  Read  a  letter  from  the  Boys'  Prayer  Meeting  of  Third 
and  Ninth  U.  P.  Churches  recommending  our  boys  to  form  a  simi- 
lar meeting.  About  twenty  of  our  boys  sigiiified  their  desire  to 
do  so  by  standing  up,  on  which  they  were  advised  to  attend  our 
Young  Men's  Meeting  on  next  Tuesday  evening  for  trial  and 
advice."  The  above  extracts  from  the  pastor's  journal,  which 
was  more  full  in  1866  than  in  past  years,  are  given  to  show  the 
state  of  religion  in  the  congregation  at  that  time. 

The  pastor  of  tlie  U.  P.  Church  of  Frank  ford  made  his  first 
attempt  at  street  preaching  in  Frankford  on  Sabbath  evening.  July 
29,  1866.  As  far  as  he  now  recollects  small  hand-bills  were  print- 
ed and  posted  around  the  town  announcing  a  preaching  service  in 
the  market  house  at  6.30  P.  M.  We  had  prepared  ourselves  for 
the  praise  service  by  securing  a  supply  of  a  little  [xiper  selection  of 
the  old  version  of  the  Psalter  called  the  "Penny  Psalm  Book," 
got  up  by  George  II.  Stuart,   Esq.,   for  prayer  and  evangelistic 


1866  FROM  MISSIONARY  REVIVAL  TO  NKW  CHURCH.  75 

meetings  and  published  by  the  Sunday  School  Union.  It  will  be 
remembered  by  the  older  inhabitants  of  Frankford  that  a  small, 
old-fashioned  market  house  stood  between  the  present  police  sta- 
tion and  the  offices  of  the  United  Gas  Improvement  Company, 
which  had  a  shing-led  roof  and  was  open  at  the  sides. 

At  6.30  o'clock,  after  two  services  in  the  church,  the  writer 
mounted  one  of  the  butcher  stands,  hung  his  hat  on  one  of  the 
meat  hooks  and,  after  glancing  at  the  audience  of  some  200  stand- 
ing around,  he  opened  with  devotional  exercises,  the  praise  service 
"being  likely  led  by  Robert  S.  Browning  or  William  Martin,  and 
the  text  of  the  sermon  being  Matt,  ii,  28,  "Come  unto  Me,"  etc. 
The  following  is  the  record  of  this  first  meeting :  "I  preached  in 
the  Frankford  Market  House  this  evening  at  6^  o'clock.  I  think 
about  200  were  present,  mostly  young  persons.  The  order  was 
good  and  all  seemed  ready  to  listen.  I  was  much  strengthened 
and  enabled  to  lift  my  voice  so  that  many  could  hear  in  Paul  and 
Main  streets."  The  next  Sabbath,  August  5,  is  thus  described: 
""Quite  unwell  with  a  cold  and  hardly  able  to  rise  from  bed ;  but 
God  enabled  me  to  preach  in  the  morning.  Good  audience  and 
tolerable  attention.  Had  prayer-meeting  in  afternoon.  Evening 
preached  in  Market  House ;  audience  still  larger  than  a  week  ago. 
I  think  not  less  tlian  300  were  present.  Good  order  and  attention. 
We  sung  the  selections  of  the  Penny  Book.  The  text  was  'All 
things  are  ready.'  "  Sabbath,  August  12,  is  thus  portrayed :  "A 
very  beautiful  day.  I  preached  three  times ;  morning  audience 
good.  There  w^ere  in  Primary  Sabbath  School  30  present ;  in 
school  proper  75,  and  in  Bible  Class  5  ;  100  copies  of  the  Evangelist 
and  20  copies  of  the  Instructor  are  taken  in  the  school.  Good  audi- 
■ence  in  Market  House.  I  judge  between  three  and  four  hundred 
present,  and  some  five  hundred  may  have  heard  the  Gospel.  No 
disturbance." 

Tuesday,  14th  August — "I  went  to  Germantown  to-day  to  call 
on  our  Chamley  family  and  felt  throat  sore  from  Sabbath  speak- 
ing. While  there,  after  coughing,  spit  a  little  blood,  I  think,  from 
the  throat."  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  distance  between 
Frankford  avenue  and  Paul  street,  on  which  the  old  Market  House 
stood,  is  a  full,  even,  long  square,  and  the  preacher  of  Sabbath 
evening  tried  to  be  heard  on  both  streets  and  in  surrounding 
dwellings.  To  speak  in  the  open  air  under  any  circumstances  is 
difficult,  and  especially  so  if  one  is  not  able  to  have  a  wall  in  front 
of  him,  as  John  Wesley  recommends.  This,  with  over-exertion  to 
"be  heard  at  a  great  distance,  to  which  must  be  added  the  barrier 


76  SEVENTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  1866 

of  comfortable  speaking  at  that  time — a  disordered  stanach — 
temporarily  broke  the  speaker  dowTi,  so  that  he  was  not  able  to 
do  full  pulpit  work  for  three  months  after.  He  tried  various 
physicians,  who  applied  nitrate  of  silver  to  the  throat  with  other 
remedies,  but  to  no  purpose.  Returninp^  from  Synod,  which  met 
in  Canada,  he  applied  to  Dr.  Hall,  New  York,  editor  of  Hall's 
Journal  of  Health,  who,  using  scientific  and  common-sense  meth- 
ods, eflfected  a  cure. 

On  Sababth,  Aus;-ust  19.  I  secured  Rev.  James  Crowe,  pastor 
of  the  Ninth  U.  P.  Churdi,  for  the  Market  House,  over  150  per- 
sons being  present.  On  Sabbath,  August  26,  through  my  invita- 
tion. Rev.  Thomas  Murphy,  of  the  Frankford  Presbyterian 
Church,  preached  in  the  Market  House.  Over  300  present  and 
no  disturbance.  Sabbath,  September  2,  was  the  last  day  of  the 
Market  House  services.  At  my  request.  Rev.  J.  T.  Cooper,  D. 
D.,  pastor  of  our  Third  Church,  Philadelphia,  conducted  the  serv- 
ice. I  estimate  that  some  three  hundred  were  present,  and,  as 
usual,  there  was  quietness  and  good  order. 

For  the  stimulation  of  the  congregation  in  reading  their 
Bibles  the  pastor  this  year  prepared  a  Scripture  Reading  Calendar 
or  plan  for  reading  the  Bible  through  in  a  year.  It  was  published 
for  some  two  years  on  fine  stiff  card  and  on  satin  paper  for  mail- 
ing in  a  letter.  It  was  recommended  by  ministers  such  as  Dr. 
Henry  A.  Boardman  and  otliers,  religious  journals  and  churdi 
judicatories ;  and  was  for  sale  in  the  leading  book  stores  of  Phila- 
delphia and  New  York.  A  copy  will  likely  be  found  in  the  Souve- 
nir. 

The  pastor  was  chosen  a  Commissioner  to  the  General  As- 
sembly this  year ;  attended  its  sessions  in  Allegheny,  Pa.,  tlie  men 
of  the  Frankford  Congregation  agreeing  to  hold  prayer-meetings 
on  the  two  Sabbaths  of  their  pastor's  absence.  At  the  Assembly 
Mr.  Price  was  made  chairman  of  one  of  the  Standing  Commit- 
tee— that  of  Foreign  Missions.  The  report  prepared  by. him  will 
be  found  on  page  61  of  Assembly  Minutes  for  1866,  in  which  it 
is  proposed  to  try  and  raise  $100,000  for  this  Board,  a  sum  larger 
than  was  ever  attempted  before.  The  pastor  also  attended  a  meet- 
ing of  the  United  Presbyterian  Synod  of  New  York,  which  met 
in  Gait,  Canada,  taking  one  of  the  young  men  of  his  congregation 
with  him,  Charles  M.  Cooper,  son  of  Mrs.  M.  M.  Cooper  and 
grandson  of  Daniel  Murphy,  our  elder.  This  being  the  year  of  the 
Fenian  raid  on  Canada,  that  country  was  in  an  agitated  condition 


1 1  Ai;  I  .i:s    M  .    <  ■<  >(  )i'i;i-j 


1866  FROM  MISSIONARY  REVIVAL  TO  NEW  CHURCH.  77 

at  the  time.    These  Assembly  and  Synod  meetings  were  very  de- 
lightful and  stimulating. 

If  the  number  of  and  attendance  at  prayer-meetings  is  any 
sign  of  an  earnest,  revived  and  healthy  church,  then  the  Frankford 
Congregation,  notwithstanding  many  drawbacks,  must  this  year 
have  been  in  an  encouraging  state,  for  in  addition  to  the  regular 
Wednesday  evening  meeting  there  were  some  three  others. 
These,  by  the  efforts  of  the  pastor,  were  formed  as  follows :  A 
meeting  for  young  men  was  organized  on  Wednesday  evening, 
March  7 ;  one  for  careless  men  April  4,  and  one  for  boys  May  20. 
These  extra  meetings  were  conducted  by  the  respective  persons 
themselves,  the  pastor  sometimes  being  present  but  taking  no  part. 
The  regular  meeting  on  Wednesday  evening  was  generally  well 
attended,  whether  held  in  the  public  worship  hall  or  in  private 
houses,  having  an  attendance  of  from  twenty  to  as  high  as  forty. 
Sometimes  three  meetings  were  held  on  the  same  day,  as  was  the 
case  on  March  18,  1866. 

The  pastor  was  this  year  remembered  by  his  congregation 
with  a  number  of  handsome  presents,  among  which  was  a  gold 
watch  valued  at  $130. 

The  members  of  our  Frankford  congregation  were  consider- 
ably scattered  during  this  and  subsequent  periods,  families  being 
found  in  Germantown,  Crescentville,  Olney,  Cedar  Grove,  Row- 
landville,  Bridesburg  and  Harrowgate ;  in  most,  if  not  all  of  which, 
prayer  and  and  even  preaching  services  were  occasionally  held. 
Quite  a  number  of  families  were  located  in  the  region  of  Cedar 
Grove,  and  the  pastor  at  one  time  had  it  in  contemplation  to  open 
a  mission  there.  We  had  some  five  or  six  families  around  Har- 
rowgate, and  some  Catholics  in  that  region  sent  their  children  to 
our  Sabbath  schools,  although  we  were  informed  the  parents 
angrily  tore  up  the  papers  they  brought  home.  The  pastor  often 
preached  in  the  open  air  at  Harrowgate  on  Sabbath  evenings,  his 
audience  room  being  an  open  lot,  corner  of  Kensington  avenue  and 
Venango  street,  and  where  dwellings  and  a  drug  store  have  since 
been  erected. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Seventh  United 
Presbyterian  Congregation  held  January  4,  1866,  it  was  resolved 
to  ask  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  for  no  more  aid,  but  to  en- 
deavor to  be  henceforth  self-sustaining;  and  the  Trustees  also 
communicated  this  to  Presbytery,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  follow- 
ing minute  of  said  court  at  its  meeting  in  Baltimore,  March  26, 


78 


SEVENTH   UNITED  I'RESBVTERIAN  CHURCH. 


ISfiG 


1866:  "Read  a  i)apcr  cdiitainini,'^  an  extract  from  the  minutes  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Seventh  Frankford  Churdi,  Pliila- 
delphia,  thanking  the  Presbytery  for  the  aid  heretofore  received 
from  the  Hoard  of  Home  Missions,  and  stating  that  they  will  no 
longer  ask  aid.  On  motion  of  Messrs.  Church  and  Dales  the  fol- 
lowing was  adopted :  'Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery  express 
its  thankfulness  to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  for  His  good- 
ness to  this  congregation  in  the  measure  of  prosperity  He  has 
vouchsafed,  and  at  the  same  time  express  its  gratification  at  the 
true  Christian  liberality  which  the  congregation  has  always  mani- 
fested.' The  report  of  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  this  year  closes  with  the  following  resolution :  'Re- 
solved, We  take  pleasure  in  reix>rting  to  the  Assembly  that  the 
following  congregations,  heretofore  receiving  aid  from  this  Board, 
are  now  self-sustaining  and  require  no  further  assistance,  viz., 
Seventh  Philadelphia,'  "  etc.  But  when  tlie  Seventh  Church  at- 
tempted to  stand  alone  it  would  seem  to  have  wabbled,  for  at  the 
meeting  of  Philadelphia  Presbytery  May  6,  1867,  it  was  resolved 
tliat  the  delegate  to  Uie  Committee  of  Missions  ask  for  $200  for 
the  Seventh  Congregation,  and  this  amount  the  Assembly  granted. 
The  follo\ving  is  a  copy  of  a  subscription  paper  of  the  congre- 
gation this  year  for  the  Boards  of  the  Church,  the  name  in  a  num- 
ber of  cases  being  in  tlie  handwriting  of  the  subscribers : 

"We,  tlie  members,  adherents  and  friends  of  the  Frankford 
United  Presbyterian  Church,  promise  to  pay  to  the  Treasurer  on 
or  before  December  i,  1866,  the  following  sums  set  opposite  to 
our  names  for  the  various  benevolent  operations  of  our  church 
for  the  present  year : 

Amount  expected  from  the  whole  church,  $200,000;  from  this 
congregation,  $325. 


10.00 


Daniel    Murphy ....  Paid  $50.00 

Hamilton  Scott Paid    10.00 

Dr.  William  Taylor  and 

family    Paid 

Robert  Ramsey Paid 

A   Friend Paid 

Maggie  II.  Taylor.  .Paid 
Sallie  A.  Haworth.  .Paid 
Ann  Jane  Lackey..  .  Paid 

Rachel  Outon Paid 

Wood  Family Paid 

Richard  H.  Lackey. Paid 
Mrs.  John  Chamley.Paid 
Jane  Shuttlcworth. . .Paid 

Rachel  Wolf Paid 

Cornelia  Nixon ....  Paid 
Eliza  Tvatimer Paid 


Cash Paid  $2.00 

]\Irs.  H Paid  2.00 

Maggie  Blythe Paid  i.oo 

Joseph  Mackey Paid  i  .00 

lo.oojjane  Mackey Paid  1.00 

5.ooi"Fllcn  Fulton Paid  .75 

5.00  A    Friend Paid  .50 

8.001  A  Little  Boy  in  Sab- 
14.00  bath  School Paid  .25 


3.00 
8.00 


David  Scott  in   Sunday 

School    Paid  .25 

5.00;Clara  Uber Paid  i.oo 

5.oo|Mrs.    Whittington Paid  i.oo 

2.00I  Ellon    McClintock .  . .  Paid  .25 

i.oo|  Mary  Xixon   Paid  i.oo 

I.oo  Three  small  subscriptions 

2.oo|     Unpaid   $150.00 


1867  FROM  MISSIONARY  REVIVAL  TO  NEW  CHURCH.  79 

Paid  William  S.  Rentoiil,  Financial  Agent,  March  21,  1867, 
$150.00. 

Surely,  this  was  an  eventful  year,  not  only  on  account  of  the 
Probst  murder,  whose  trial  took  place  in  Philadelphia  April  28, 
and  the  burning  of  Briggs'  Frankford  Print  Works,  involving  a 
loss  of  a  million  and  a  half  of  dollars,  but  because  of  the  great 
things  God  did  for  our  congregation. 

The  year  1867  opened  with  the  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Church 
not  being  physically  in  good  shape.  He  began,  however,  rising 
at  5.30  in  the  morning  and  pressing  forward  in  the  work  for  a 
time ;  but  on  the  25th  of  January  he  was  taken  with  typhoid  fever 
and  was  confined  to  his  bed  for  a  month  under  the  care  of  Doc- 
tors Bums  and  Deacon,  with  the  most  careful  nursing  in  the  home 
of  Mr.  Daniel  Murphy.  For  some  two  Sabbaths  sermons  were 
read  in  the  church;  afterward  and  until  March  31  the  pulpit  was 
filled  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Warne  and  Work,  of  Frankford. 

Perhaps  the  state  of  tlie  pastor's  health  may  have  had  a  dis- 
couraging influence  on  his  mind,  for  he  felt  that  piety  had  declined 
in  the  Frankford  Church..  And  yet  the  pastor's  record  at  this 
time  shows  the  following  encouraging  facts :  February  27,  not- 
withstanding my  sickness,  I  find  the  Boys'  Prayer  Meeting  is  still 
carried  on  and  is  doing  well ;  eleven  boys  were  present  last  Tues- 
day evening  at  the  Schwartz  house  meeting.  On  the  evening  of 
March  13,  although  the  day  had  been  rainy,  twenty  persons  were 
present  at  the  congregational  prayer-meeting ;  and  in  the  evening 
the  teachers'  monthly  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Mur- 
phy. Three-fourths  of  the  whole  number  were  present,  and  the 
meeting  was  a  harmonious  and  pleasant  one.  On  Wednesday 
evening,  December  11,  the  room  of  the  congregational  prayer- 
meeting  was  filled,  nearly  forty  being  present;  equal  nearly  to 
half  the  membership  of  the  congregation;  at  which  meeting,  ac- 
cording to  cu^om,  a  collection  was  taken  up  amounting  to  fifty- 
one  cents.  On  Sabbath,  December  15,  there  is  this  entry:  "Intensely 
cold ;  no  cars  on  the  streets ;  preached  to  Sabbath  school  in  the 
afternoon ;  had  freedom  in  speaking  and  the  best  attention  I  ever 
had.  I  hope  good  was  done."  During  this  year  twenty-one  mem- 
bers were  added  to  our  roll,  nearly  all  by  profession,  and  some  of 
them  among  the  best  members  and  church  workers.  From  all  of 
which  it  would  appear  that  pastors  and  people  of  a  congregation 
are  often  discouraged  when  for  this  there  is  no  real  ground  for 
it.     The  Word,  like  the  seed  in  the  ground,  may  be  taking  root 


80  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1867 

although  it  is  unseen.    Ministers  are  often  the  poorest  barometers 
by  which  to  test  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  church. 

During  this  year  we  began  to  feel  that  we  might  change  our 
Paul  and  Orthodox  street  lots  for  a  still  more  choice  location,  and 
had  our  attention  directed  to  a  property  on  Orthodox,  comer  of 
Franklin  street,  containing  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  on  the 
former  street  and  running  back  on  the  latter  nearly  two  hundred 
feet,  and  which  was  owned  by  two  Frankford  parties,  the  Messrs. 
Louis  and  Wesley  Brous,  who  had  the  corner  lots,  and  Thomas  B. 
Taylor,  who  possessed  tlie  adjoining  ones.  After  some  protracted 
negotiations  the  property  was  purchased  from  each,  the  price  of 
tlie  Brous  property  being  $2000  and  that  of  Mr.  Taylor  $1800.  On 
November  i  Mr.  Daniel  Murphy,  treasurer  of  the  congregation, 
paid  $3800  in  cash  and  received  the  deeds. 

The  Paul  and  Orthodox  streets  property  was  now  put  up 
for  sale.  Two  Frankford  parties  offered  $3000  for  the  lots  on 
both  streets,  but  the  church  asked  $3500.  The  property  after- 
wards being  divided  was  sold  to  two  other  parties.  The  small 
stone  church  building  located  on  Frankford  avenue  below  Harri- 
son street,  erected  by  a  dissatisfied  party  in  the  New  Jerusalem 
Society  of  Frankford,  was  at  this  time  offered  to  our  congregation 
for  $7000,  but  we  declined  to  purchase. 

In  tlie  spring  of  this  year  we  began  to  have  our  attention  di- 
rected to  a  plan  of  our  proposed  church  edifice.  The  pastor  some- 
times, accompanied  with  a  brother  minister,  visited  many  church 
buildings,  making  rough  sketches  of  them.  Finally  he  recom- 
mended a  modified  plan  of  the  Dr.  Wylie  Church,  on  Broad  street 
near  Spruce,  which  the  Building  Committee  accepted,  and  a  rough 
sketch  was  given  to  a  rising  young  architect  of  Philadelphia,  Mr. 
James  H.  Windrim.  He  drew  a  plan  after  the  early  English  style, 
which  we  and  the  people  of  Frankford  tiiought  very  beautiful. 
His  charge  for  which  was  only  $30.  Now  that  he  has  earned  a 
national  reputation  in  his  profession  he  would  likely  charge  many 
times  as  much  for  the  work. 

With  the  exception  of  the  period  of  sickness,  the  pastor 
labored  earnestly  this  year,  frequently  preaching  three  times  on 
Sabbath,  attending  prayer  and  other  congregational  meetings,  as 
also  visiting  from  house  to  house,  occasionally  with  an  elder  and 
oftener  alone.  On  Friday,  September  27,  he  made  seventeen  pas- 
toral visits  and  spoke  pointedly,  touching  personal  salvation. 

As  far  back  as  July  23  the  pastor  began  to  prepare  a  sermon 


1867  FROM  MISSIONARY  REVIVAL  TO  NEjW  CHURCH.  81 

on  Acts  8,  8,  "And  there  was  great  joy  in  that  city,"  it  being  fin- 
ished August  29,  on  which  the  pastor  made  this  note :  "This  ser- 
mon may  fall  flat,  but  it  has  cost  me  a  good  deal  of  study  and 
labor."  The  following  is  the  record  of  Sabbath,  September  i : 
"Beautiful  day;  full  house  in  morning;  good  attention  and  consid- 
erable freedom  in  preaching  both  times.  My  carefully-prepared 
sermon  in  morning,  from  Acts  8,  8,  did  not  seem  to  call  forth  an) 
more  attention  than  the  one  in  the  afternoon  on  Isa.  25,  6,  'Not  by 
might,' "  etc.  A  minister's  pride  sometimes  needs  to  be  humbled 
On  the  last  Sabbath  of  September  the  third  preaching  service  was 
on  the  lots  at  Harrowgate  to  an  audience  of  nearly  two  hundred, 
mostly  young  people.  On  July  21  the  pastor  preached  on  "Minis- 
terial Support,"  after  which  some  young  lady  sent  by  her  teachei 
in  the  Sabbath  school  $5  to  that  particular  fund. 

Two  entertainments  were  held  this  year,  one  of  which  was 
connected  with  the  Sabbath  school,  and  consisted  of  a  lecture 
illustrated  with  Indian  curiosities,  by  Rev.  Andrew  Gordon,  our 
missionary  to  India,  he  and  his  daughter  being  dressed  in  Hindu 
costume  and  conversing  and  singing  in  the  language  of  that  coun- 
try. Twenty-one  new  members  were  added  to  the  congregation 
this  year.  No  outside  efforts  were  made  this  year  to  collect 
money  for  the  Building  Fund,  but  in  November  the  pastor  started 
a  plan  for  the  members  and  friends  of  the  congregation  to  take 
five-dollar  shares,  either  one  share  or  as  many  as  they  wished,  and 
to  collect  the  amount  or  pay  it  themselves.  During  the  month 
nearly  $120  was  collected  by  a  few  of  the  members  in  this  way; 
and  we  must  not  omit  to  mention  that  the  Conley  boys  secured  $10 
by  a  fair.  The  Treasurer  also  invested  the  money  in  United 
States  bonds  at  a  liberal  interest.  The  first  marriage  solemnized 
this  year  was  through  the  pastor  sitting  up  in  bed  during  the  fever, 
in  the  third-story  back  room  of  Mr.  Murphy's  house,  4428  Frank- 
ford  avenue.  The  persons  united  were  Henry  Whitaker,  of  Cedar 
Grove,  and  Miss  Harriet  Hall.  On  October  25  an  election  was 
held  for  one  ruling  elder  in  the  congregation.  Samuel  Sykes  re- 
ceived two  votes  and  Samuel  Teas  thirteen.  Mr.  Samuel  Teas 
was  chosen  and  installed  on  November  17,  1867.  As  early  as  April 
of  this  year  the  record  shows  that  the  pastor  of  the  Seventli  Church 
began  to  gather  materials  for  the  history  of  the  congregation,  and 
that  is  perhaps  one  of  the  reasons  why  this  sketch  has  grown  to 
what  some  may  think  improper  bounds. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the 


82  EARLY    HISTORY    AS    A    MISSION.  1868 

praise  part  of  the  service  in  the  congregation,  a  singing  class  was 
commenced  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  William  Martin,  who  was 
probably  the  precentor  at  this  time.  On  November  19  the  class 
numhcrctl  about  twenty,  mostly  young  people,  who  met  at  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Shuttleworth,  Leiper  street. 

On  January  i,  1868.  the  pastor  started  a  small  four-paged 
double-column  monthly  paper,  about  10  by  7  inches,  called  The 
Vineyard.  At  the  head  of  page  one  was  a  small  cut  of  a  bunch 
erf  grapes,  and  the  motto  was  "Son,  go  work  to-day  in  My  vine- 
yard." The  object  of  this  little  journal  was  to  explain  the  con- 
gergation's  work  and  to  stimulate  the  people  to  assist  their  pastor. 
It  contained  short,  original  articles  of  a  religious  and  moral  charac- 
ter, items  of  congregational  news,  a  few  choice  anecdotes  and  a 
short  poetical  selection.  This  was  a  good  year  to  issue  such  a 
paper,  since  the  people  needed  a  rousing  in  the  work  of  securing 
money  for  the  new  building ;  and  yet  it  was  perhaps  the  very  worst 
time  to  begin  such  a  publication,  for  while  tlie  work  of  building 
went  forward  the  labors  of  the  pastor-editor  were  quadrupled  in 
preparing  sermons,  visiting  the  people,  collecting  money,  procur- 
ing building  materials,  overseeing  the  work  of  church  erection  and 
not  shunning  when  he  deemed  it  necessary  to  take  a  hand  himself 
at  work ;  and  so  with  June  number  the  Vineyard  had  to  be  sus- 
pended. The  price  of  this  diminutive  sheet  was  thirty-five  cents  a 
year.  Mr.  George  S.  Ferguson,  of  Philadelphia,  was  the  pub- 
lisher, Mr.  Charles  M.  Cooper  was  agent  and  the  pastor  the  editor. 
The  Session  of  the  congregation  appropriated  from  its  benevolent 
fund  ten  dollars  and  other  friends  donated  a  still  larger  sum  to 
aid  its  cirailation. 

The  great  event  of  our  history  this  year  was  the  beginning 
of  the  work  of  erecting  our  church  edifice.  The  ground  had  been 
secured  and  paid  for  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Orthodox  and 
Franklin  streets,  we  had  agreed  upon,  and  the  architect  had  drawn 
out  our  plan ;  and  on  May  8  the  Trustees,  with  Thomas  B.  Taylor 
and  the  pastor  constituting  the  Building  Committee,  resolved  to- 
begin  the  work ;  and  at  this  meeting  the  following  Trustees  were 
present:  Messrs.  David  Murphy,  Samuel  Teas,  Hamilton  Scott, 
James  Smith  and  Thomas  Conley.  The  plan  called  for  a  stone 
building,  one-story  in  front  and  two  in  the  rear,  the  dimensions 
of  the  whole  building  being  123  by  45  feet,  the  roof  to  be  placed 
on  all,  the  rear  rooms  to  be  completed.  And  in  order  to  keep  down 
expense  the  audience  room  in  front  to  be  left  for  the  present  un- 
finished. 


1868  FROM  MISSIONARY  REVIVAL  TO  NEW  CHURCH.  83 

We  got  estimates  from  a  number  of  parties  for  the  stone- 
work and  materials,  and  finally  we  agreed  with  Mr.  B.  F.  Phene- 
ger  to  do  tiie  stonework  at  $2.70  a  perch,  we  furnishing  all  mate- 
rial;  and  we  agreed  with  Samuel  P.  Faunce  for  stone  at  $1.65  a 
perch ;  Thomas  B.  Taylor,  of  Frankford,  agreed  to  do  all  except 
stonework  of  tlie  building  for  $6400  and  to  take  the  Paul  street 
lots  at  $2000  in  part  payment,  we  to  pay  $1500  when  the  rooi  was 
on  the  building  and  $1000  at  the  end  of  the  year. 

On  May  9  ground  was  broken,  a  Frankford  contractor  begin- 
ning the  excavation  for  the  cellar,  which,  on  account  of  rain,  re- 
quired five  weeks  for  its  completion.  The  stonework  was  begun 
July  8,  the  mason  agreeing  to  make  the  walls  two  and  a  half  feet 
up  to  the  cellar  joists. 

Thursday,  July  30,  was  Founding  Day,  the  cellar  walls  hav- 
ing been  finished-  A  temporary  floor  was  laid  on  the  joists,  a  small 
platform  was  erected,  over  which  uprights  supported  an  Ameri- 
can flag.  The  exercises  began  at  4.30  in  the  afternoon,  at  which 
time  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred  persons  were 
present,  who  were  all  compelled  to  stand,  although  the  day  was 
excessively  hot.  Professor  J.  K.  McGowan,  one  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  precentors  of  the  city  and  author  of  the  Sabbath 
School  Psalmodist,  with  a  company  of  singers  he  had  brought  with 
him,  led  the  praise  service,  the  psalms  used  being  the  whole  or 
parts  of  the  84th,  the  I02d  and  the  148th.  The  Scriptures  were 
read  by  Rev.  Lafayette  Marks,  pastor  of  the  North  Church,  the 
part  chosen  being  Ezra  3,  6-13.  Dr.  Joseph  T.  Cooper,  pastor  of 
the  Third  Church,  Philadelphia,  led  in  prayer.  Addresses  were 
made  by  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Coulston,  of  the  Frankford  Baptist 
Church,  and  by  Rev.  Curtis  F.  Turner,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  Frankford,  and  by  Rev.  Francis  Church,  pastor  of  our 
First  Church,  who  also  placed  a  box  in  the  corner-stone,  the  box 
having  been  prepared  by  Charles  M.  Cooper,  and  which  contained 
the  daily  papers,  Confession  of  Faith,  Psalm  Book,  The  Vineyard, 
coins,  etc.  A  collection  was  taken  up  amounting  to^  $50,  and  in 
the  evening  a  supper  and  musical  entertainment  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Building  Fund  was  given  in  Wright's  Institute,  the  tickets  of 
admission  being  fifty  cents,  and  at  which  some  two  hundred  and 
fifty  persons  were  present. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FROM  THE  FOUNDING  OF  THE  NEW  BUILDING  TO 
OPENING,  1868-1869. 

No  one  had  been  appointed  to  superintend  the  erection  of 
the  new  building,  but  the  pastor  was  scarcely  ever  absent  from  it 
a  single  day,  except  Sabbath.  On  November  14  the  stonework 
was  finished,  and  on  December  11  we  had  thirteen  men  at  work 
grading  the  church  grounds,  and  arranged  for  them  to  have  lunch 
at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Nixon.  The  slaters  began  work 
on  December  8  and  did  not  finish  until  January  7  following.  Ac- 
cording to  the  measurement  of  Mr.  Charles  Deal,  of  Frankford, 
the  stonework  in  the  building  amounted  to  14193^  perches. 

During  the  summer  of  this  year  Mr.  William  Baird  began  to 
enlarge  his  building,  in  a  part  of  which  we  were  allowed  to  wor- 
ship, and  so  we  were  compelled  to  move  and  hold  our  services  in 
the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  at  a  rent  of  five  dollars  per  Sabbath ;  and 
sometimes,  on  account  of  this  part  of  the  building  being  occupied, 
we  were  compelled  tO'  move  to  a  small  room  in  the  third  story. 
During  this  period  we  were  very  uncomfortable  on  Sabbath  day, 
owing  to  noise  and  unsuitable  quarters ;  and  the  consequence  was 
our  Sabbath  school  very  much  declined.  We  continued  there, 
however,  until  Mr.  Baird  invited  us  to  return  to  his  building, 
where  we  were  again  made  very  comfortable. 

Very  effective  work  was  done  this  year  in  securing  money 
for  the  new  building,  both  in  the  congregation  and  to  some  extent 
outside,  the  people  having  before  their  eyes  a  practical  encourage- 
ment. 

At  the  June  and  September  meetings  of  the  collectors  some 
two  hundred  dollars  each  had  been  secured,  and  the  total  collec- 
tions from  all  sources  for  the  Building  Fund  this  year  amounted 
to  $1284;  and  it  is  computed  that  of  this  amount  the  people  of 
the  congregation  gave  for  the  year  $671.06,  a  part  of  which  was 
most  likely  what  they  subscribed  in  1863.  In  this  sum  there  were 
liberal  offerings.    Mary  Wood  and  daughters  gave  $100;  Samuel 


86  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1869 

Teas,  $50;  Daniel  Calhraith.  $50;  Plamilton  Scott,  James  W.  Lati- 
mer, James  Allen,  Samuel  Sykes,  each  $20.  The  following  gave 
$10;  E.  D.  J.  Hoagland,  Robert  McBride,  John  Scott,  Ellen  Ful- 
ton, Susy  Nixon,  Elizabeth  McCaul,  Charles  Gray.  Robert  Ram- 
sey, and  quite  a  number  gave  five  dollars  each.  During  the  year 
these  persons  collected  the  following  amounts:  Samuel  Teas, 
$93;  Margaretta  IM.  Cooper.  %yy;  Margaret  Arnold,  $32.40;  Rob- 
ert Moody,  $58;  Hamilton  Scott,  $20;  J.  J.  Stewart,  $46.60;  Sarah 
Sykes,  $49.50;  Margaret  Jane  Blythe,  $17.00;  Mary  Foulkrod, 
$53.25  ;  Elizabeth  McCaul,  $14.50;  Ellen  D.  J.  Hoagland,  $7;  Cor- 
nelia Xixon,  $8.50;  Eliza  Harper,  $21.20;  the  Misses  Wood,  $16; 
Ellen  Fulton,  $9.  A  number  of  the  young  people  also  had  sub- 
scription books,  in  which  they  entered  weekly  subscriptions  for  the 
building  from  five  cents  upward.  This  year  marked  the  departure 
of  Mary  Moody,  a  young  woman,  who,  like  her  mother  and  some 
other  members  of  the  family,  was  cut  off  by  consumption.  The 
pastor's  record  shows  that  he  visited  her  for  the  last  time  on  Fri- 
day, March  6,  when  she  said  in  answer  to  his  kind  inquiry,  "I  am 
waiting  for  Jesus  to  take  me  home  ;"  and  in  answer  to  his  question 
"What  shall  I  tell  the  living  as  your  message  to  them,"  "Tell 
them,"  she  answered,  "to  trust  in  Jesus."  "But,"  continued  the 
pastor,  "what  shall  I  tell  young,  careless  persons."  "Tell  them," 
she  continued,  "to  come  to  Christ  now,  for  now  is  the  time."  This 
lovely  young  Christian  was  buried  on  March  10  in  St.  James' 
Methodist  Church  graveyard  at  Olney,  where,  it  is  believed,  all 
the  members  of  the  family  sleep. 

Besides  the  large  contributions  to  the  church  building  this 
year,  the  liberality  of  tlie  congregation  was  shown  in  its  giving 
for  pastor's  support  $160  for  the  quarter  ending  June  30,  the  larg- 
est amount  for  the  same  period,  it  is  thought,  we  ever  received, 
and  this,  we  felt,  was  largely  owing  to  our  monthly  card-giving 
scheme.  Our  annual  mission  subscription,  which  will  be  found  in 
the  Souvenir,  shows  tliat  we  gave  $132.37.  Of  this  amount  Daniel 
Murphy  gave  $50.  The  following  entry  is  found  in  the  pastor's 
journal  July  25 :  "We  hear  that  Miss  Tenant  has  left  us  $500. 
Thanks  be  to  God." 

The  year  1869  was  in  some  respects  the  most  remarkable  and 
encouraging  one  in  the  congregation's  past  history,  as  far  as  a 
suitable  place  of  worship  was  concerned.  The  church  building,  for 
which  the  pastor  and  people  had  been  working  since  the  sjjring  of 
1863.  was  this  year  opened  in  its  lecture  and  Bible  class-rooms, 


jiiit.N    .).   rs  ri;\\Aur 


1869  FROM    FOUNDING   TO    OPFNING    NFW    CHURCH,  87 

causing  great  joy  among  the  people  of  the  congregation,  and,  in- 
deed, in  sister  churches  and  tlie  community.  On  February  13  the 
floors  of  the  lecture  and  School  school  rooms  were  nearly  laid. 
On  April  3  Pinker  &  Deal,  of  Frankford,  were  employed  to  put 
in  gas  pipes,  at  a  cost  of  $76.  On  the  7th  Louis  Hilt  was  point- 
ing the  stonework,  and  on  the  15th  we  agreed  with  Francis  Deal 
to  plaster  the  lecture  and  adjoining  rooms  for  $240.  During  the 
months  of  June  and  July,  when  a  little  spare  time  could  be  found, 
the  pastor  sorted  lumber  scaffolding,  taking  out  the  nails,  being 
occasionally  assisted  by  some  of  the  men  of  the  congregation. 
The  scaffolding  was  valued  by  James  McCartney  at  $103.  On 
June  13  ten  or  fifteen  men,  with  some  ten  horses  and  carts,  were 
grading  the  church  lawn  and  hauling  away  the  dirt,  for  which 
ten  cents  a  load  was  secured.  The  ladies  of  the  congregation 
prepared  a  supper  for  these  men  in  the  new  building,  which  was, 
I  suppose,  the  first  service  in  it,  not  exactly  a  religious,  but  still  a 
benevolent  one. 

Mr.  Samuel  Sykes,  of  the  congregation,  and  his  partner,  Mr. 
Creighton,  agreed  to  do  the  painting,  graining  and  varnishing  of 
the  lower  rooms  for  $140.  It  proved  that  the  varnish  on  the  back 
of  the  lecture  room  pews  did  not  dry  properly,  and  hence  they  had 
to  be  afterward  covered  with  cloth.  On  October  14  quite  a  num- 
ber of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation  and  those  of  sister  congre- 
gations had  a  quilting  party  in  the  new  Bible  school  room,  pre- 
paring for  a  fair,  and  on  the  same  day  the  carpenters  were  mak- 
ing a  boardwalk  through  the  church  lawn.  On  November  29  wc 
learned  from  our  attorney,  the  afterward  lamented  W.  J.  Mc- 
Elroy,  Esq.,  who  was  killed  in  a  railroad  wreck,  that  Lewis,  the 
slater  of  the  church,  had  entered  a  lien  against  the  property  on 
accotmt  of  some  dispute  with  our  contractor,  Thomas  B.  Taylor, 
-and  we  were  instructed  to  withhold  payment.  This  case  never 
came  to  trial  and  was  finally  stricken  from  the  list. 

The  financial  question  is  always  a  pressing  factor  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  church.  On  January  7  our  Building  Fund  had  been  re- 
duced to  some  $200  and  bills  were  coming  in  with  great  fre- 
quency. A  large  number  of  collectors  in  the  congregation — men, 
women  and  children — were  at  work  presenting  their  subscription 
books  wherever  opportunity  offered,  and  their  reports  and  gath- 
erings were  received  weekly  in  connection  with  the  Wednesday 
evening  prayer  meeting. 

In  fact,  the  collecting  books  of  the  congregation,  including 


88  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1869 

those  of  the  pastor,  from  his  orcHnatioii  in  1856  to  his  resigntion  in 
1873.  showing  receipts,  it  is  Ix'Heved,  of  not  less  than  fifteen 
thousand  dollars,  more  than  three-fourths  of  which  the  pastor 
secured  himself,  are  botli  a  curiosity,  an  object  lesson  to  clnircli 
beggars,  if  they  will  study  the  plan  there  develoi>ed,  and  are  a 
most  important  i)art  of  the  congregation's  histor>'.  Of  these 
books  we  shall  endeavor  to  arrange  a  complete  list  in  the  Souvenir. 

The  pastor,  likely  in  conjunction  with  Daniel  Murphy,  the 
Treasurer,  arranged  to  have  the  opening  collection  for  the  new 
building  to  begin  September  i,  1869.  In  the  part  of  the  year  pre- 
vious to  that  time  such  amounts  as  the  following  had  been  re- 
ceived from  persons  who  had,  in  some  cases,  given  before,  and 
who  also  gave  afterwards  at  the  opening:  James  McCandless, 
$100;  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Dales,  George  H.  Stuart.  Hays  &  Ellis.  James 
P.  Ferree,  each  $50;  John  Clendenning,  Fannie  Stevenson,  each 
$25 ;  William  Getty,  Mrs.  Thomas  Duffield,  each  $20,  and  others 
gave  smaller  amounts.  On  March  9  the  pastor  took  his  collecting 
book  and  ventured  into  Foster's  Cotton  Mill,  corner  of  Adams 
and  Wingohocking  streets,  Frankford,  and  was  kindly  taken 
around  and  introduced  to  the  employes  at  their  looms  by,  i>erhaps, 
a  loom  boss,  who,  the  writer  was  afterward  informed,  was  a 
skeptic.  All  persons  received  the  pastor-collector  kindly,  and  he 
in  a  few  minutes  secured  subscriptions  and  cash  to  the  amount  of 
thirty  dollars. 

Sometimes  the  collectors  had  very  encouraging  weekly  re- 
ports to  present,  as  on  Februan,-  17  it  was  announced  that  $200 
had  been  received,  wliich  might  have  included  a  large  subscription 
received  by  the  pastor.  On  May  26  only  $45  had  been  secured  for 
the  month ;  and  the  collectors  reported  that  money  was  scarce  and 
hard  to  collect.  On  September  4  the  pastor  visited  Robert 
Moody,  at  Cedar  Grove,  and  received  from  him  $13  additional. 
No  collector  manifested  more  enthusiasm  for  the  new  building 
than  this  untiring  worker;  he  literally  tramped  the  hills  around 
Olney,  Crescentville  and  Cedar  Grove  again  and  again. 

Three  concerts  were  held  this  year  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Building  Fund  ;  the  first  in  Baird's  Hall,  on  January  25.  This 
was  a  glee  and  ballad  concert,  quite  classical,  and  was  among  the 
most  successful  we  ever  held.  The  artists  were  from  the  city,  and 
were  as  follows:  John  Huggard,  tenor;  S.  H.  Barret,  tenor; 
George  K.  Richards,  baritone:  Courtland  F.  Jenks.  basso:  M.  B. 
Allc1)ach,  buffo;  Thomas  A'Becket,  Jr.,  pianist.     The  program 


1869  FROM    FOUNDING   TO    OPENING    NFW    CHURCH,  89 

was  made  up  of  selections  from  Bishop,  Foster,  Verdi,  Balfe, 
Winner  and  other  eminent  composers.  The  use  of  the  hall  and 
piano  were  kindly  given  by  Mr.  Baird,  who  got  up  the  program, 
sold  1 20  tickets  and  gave  the  singers  an  elegant  supper,  costing 
some  fifty  dollars.  Four  hundred  tickets,  at  fifty  cents  each,  had 
been  sold,  and  between  300  and  400  persons  were  present,  the 
gross  receipts  being  $220  and  the  net  $201. 

The  next  concert  was  connected  with  a  festival  and  was  also 
held  in  Lanark  Hall,  April  6,  and  was  termed  the  Seddons  Con- 
cert, because  under  the  direction  of  James  Seddons,  Esq.,  and 
this,  like  the  preceding  one,  was  a  most  delightful  entertainment. 
Most  of  the  artists  belonged  to  Frankford  and  consisted  of  James 
Seddons,  his  sister,  Mrs.  Sallie  Lazalere  ;  Louisa  Levis,  Mary  Wil- 
son and  the  well-known  William  Smith.  Mrs.  Lazalere,  who  was 
a  very  attractive  woman,  was  the  violinist.  About  200  persons 
were  present  on  this  occasion.  Refreshments  were  served,  and 
between  fifty  and  sixty  dollars  were  cleared.  A  concert  was  also 
held  December  14  in,  possibly,  the  Green  Street  Hall,  at  which 
Carl  Sentz  was  present. 

Two  fairs  were  held  this  year  for  the  benefit  of  the  Building 
Fund.  From  a  fair  circular  in  the  Souvenir  we  note  the  follow- 
ing :  "The  church  has  been  erected,  and  it  is  proposed  to  hold  a 
fair  in  the  new  building,  corner  of  Orthodox  and  Franklin  streets, 
about  the  second  week  of  October."  And  this  circular  is  signed 
as  follows :  M.  M.  Cooper,  president ;  Miss  Kate  Emery,  Presby- 
terian Church  ;  Mrs.  Rebecca  Thorn,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ; 
Miss  Lizzie  Ashton,  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Dufifield.  A  still  grander  fair, 
for  which  earnest  and  long-continued  preparations  were  made 
and  at  which  sister  churches  of  Frankford  were  represented  by 
devoted  workers  and  possibly  by  denominal  tables,  was  held  in 
Baird's  New  Hall,  Green  street,  December  i  ton.  On  Wed- 
nesday, the  first  evening,  not  many  were  present ;  but  there  were 
receipts  amounting  to  forty  dollars.  On  Monday  there  was  a 
great  snow  storm,  when  only  $25  was  received.  The  writer's  jour- 
nal has  this  entry  on  Wednesday,  December  8:  "The  Duffields, 
Ann  Oat,  Mrs.  Thorn,  the  Misses  Murray  working  beyond  all 
praise."  On  Friday  evening,  the  loth,  we  hav-  this  statement : 
"A  stormy  week.  Pretty  good  number  at  fair  each  night.  A  num- 
ber out  from  town  yesterday  afternoon.  Messrs.  Baird  and  Clen- 
denning  here  to-night.  Things  are  going  very  nicely."  Saturday, 
nth,  was  the  last  evening,  and  this  is  the  journal  entry :    "Busy  at 


90  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  18G9 

fair;  a  good  many  present  to-night.  Took  about  $120  in  cash. 
Had  a  very  pleasant  time."  The  writer  is  not  able  to  say  what 
amount  was  secured  through  this  effort. 

The  pastor  and  his  sister,  Mary  Jane  Price,  who  was  living 
at  that  time,  lent  the  Building  Fund,  in  a  pressure  upon  it,  six 
hundred  dollars  between  tlicm,  whicli  was  afterward  promptly 
paid.  The  writer  having  learned  that  Miss  Agnes  Tenant,  of 
Frankford,  had  bequeathed  to  the  church  $500,  he  on  August  31 
copied  her  will  from  the  Philadelphia  records.  On  December  13 
the  treasurer  paid  Samuel  Faunce  the  balance  due  on  bill  of  stone 
for  church  building,  $247.30,  the  whole  bill  being  for  1362  perches, 
at  $1.65,  amounting  to  $2247.30. 

The  time  fixed  for  the  opening  of  the  lecture  room  of  the 
new  church  was  the  first  week  of  November.  From  a  printed  col- 
lecting circular  of  September  i  it  is  stated  that  $3000  was  needed 
to  finish  the  lecture  room ;  and  as  the  time  drew  near  to  open  the 
pastor,  by  circulars,  personal  letters  and  appeals,  endeavored  to 
work  up  the  opening  collection.  Toward  the  close  of  October  he 
went  to  New  York  city,  spending  some  three  days  there  and 
bringing  back  two  hundred  dollars.  Sabbath  day,  October  31,  was 
the  last  day  the  congregation  worshiped  in  Baird's  Hall,  although 
the  Sabbath  school  remained  there  for  months  after  and  until 
their  own  room  in  the  new  cliurch  was  finished.  During  the  first 
part  of  November  the  pastor  was  busied  night  and  day  fixing 
things  about  the  church,  sending  circulars  for  money,  invitations 
for  an  opening  tea  and  the  like.  His  journal  of  November  4,  the 
day  previous  to  the  opening  of  the  lecture  room,  says :  "Terrible 
pressure  of  engagements ;  building  not  fully  ready.  Have  this 
evening  lighted  up  with  temporary  gas  fixtures." 

The  opening  was  Friday  evening,  November  5.  Rev.  J.  B. 
Dales,  D.  D.,  who  was  to  have  preached  that  evening,  was  un 
able  to  be  present  on  account  of  sickness,  and  Rev.  Hugh  Torrence, 
pastor  of  the  Sixth  Church,  Philadelphia,  took  his  place.  Not  a 
large  number  of  our  people  were  present  from  the  city,  although 
the  evening  was  selected  for  their  accommodation.  At  the  close 
of  the  service  the  opening  collection  amounted  to  $1330.  On  the 
same  evening  a  social  meeting,  at  which  tea  was  served,  was  held 
in  the  new  and  unfinished  Sabbath  school  room  at  5.30  P.  M. 
Special  printed  cards  of  invitation  for  this  were  sent  to  ministers 
and  their  wives  in  Frankford,  to  those  of  our  denomination  in  the 
city,  as  also  to  prominent  families  in  the  vicinity. 


sK\i:x'rii    iN-rrioi)   iMJKSitv'riowi  .\  x   ciii'Kcii,    i-<;f> 


1869  FROM    FOUNDING   TO    OPENING   NKW    CHURCH.  91 

On  the  Sabbath  following,  November  7,  the  opening  exer- 
cises were  continued,  the  Rev.  John  Stinson,  of  Ireland,  brother 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Stinson,  of  Philadelphia,  preaching  in  the  morn- 
ing; Rev.  W.  S.  Owens,  pastor  of  the  North  Church,  in  the  after- 
noon, and  Rev.  J-  T.  Cooper,  D.  D.,  of  the  Third  Church,  in  the 
evening.  The  lecture  room  was  well  filled  morning  and  after- 
noon and  crowded  in  the  evening.  The  collection  had  now  swelled 
to  $2134.  The  people  were  delighted  with  the  new  building  and 
surprised  at  the  collection.  The  pastor,  laboring  during  the  week 
to  increase  the  latter,  was  able  to  state  in  his  journal  of  Thurs- 
day, November  ii,  that  it  had  now  reached  $2500. 

Some  very  encouraging  letters,  with  liberal  donations,  were 
received  about  this  time  from  George  H.  Stuart,  Dr.  Dales.  James 
McCandless,  Charles  Porter,  of  Philadelphia ;  William  Welsh 
and  Harvey  Rowland,  of  Frankford ;  Samuel  Templeton,  Albany ; 
Rev.  Dr.  John  T.  Pressly,  Allegheny ;  Hugh  Reed,  Freeport ;  James 
P.  Hanna,  Pittsburg,  and  others.  These  letters  will  be  found  in 
the  Souvenir.  The  noted  G.  H,  Stuart  says  :  "My  hands  are  more 
than  full,  but  I  carmot  withstand  your  earnest  appeal  and  enclose 
my  check  for  $50,  with  my  prayers  for  your  success."  Dr.  Dales, 
James  McCandless,  Charles  Porter,  Thomas  Stinson,  Elliot  Broth- 
ers, Isaac  McGay,  Henry  Harrison,  Samuel  Kennedy,  Fannie  Ste- 
venson and  a  host  of  other  generous  persons  presented  offerings 
at  the  opening,  although  they  had  given  before  and  in  most  cases 
gave  afterward.  The  most  touching  letter,  to  the  writer,  received 
in  connection  with  the  opening  was  that  of  the  friend  of  a  little 
deceased  girl,  who  it  appears  had  pledged  to  give  a  donation  to 
the  new  church. 

The  letter  is  as  follows  :  "Rev.  Mr.  Price,  Dear  Sir — Robina 
Blain  said  two  weeks  before  she  died  if  she  lived  till  your  church 
was  opened  she  intended  to  be  present  and  she  would  give  you 
one  dollar.  But  it  has  pleased  the  Almighty  to  call  her  away.  I 
send  it  to  fulfill  her  promise.  Joseph  Briggs,  Sunday,  7th."  We 
hardly  know  whether  more  to  admire  the  devotion  of  the  dead  girl 
or  that  of  the  living  benefactor  who  carried  out  her  wishes.  Who 
will  venture  to  say  that  the  offering  of  that  little  departed  g^rl  was 
not  the  largest  among  the  tliousands  at  the  opening? 

Some  of  the  following  amounts  were  not  fully  paid  until 
some  months  after,  November  5,  but  they  formed  a  part  of  the 
opening  collections:  Mr.  Thomas  Stinson  and  family,  $170; 
Charles  Porter,  Elliott  Brotliers,  Samuel  Kennedy,  Isaac  McGay, 


92  SEVKNTII    UXITDD    PRF.SBYTlCRIAX    CIirRCH.  1869 

James  Price,  each  $ioo:  James  P.  Hanna,  Daniel  Murphy,  James 
McCandless,  George  B.  Skilton,  Rev.  W.  S.  Owens.  Thomas  B. 
Taylor,  Mary  McKee,  John  R.  Savage.  Dornan  &  Maybin,  Samuel 
Thornton.  James  Moore,  E.  F.  Mason,  the  Misses  Mclntyre, 
Joseph  D.  McKee,  each  $50.  Fourteen  persons  gave  $25  ;  five  gave 
$20;  numbers  gave  $10  and  $5.  and  others  smaller  amounts.  The 
entrv'  in  the  writer's  journal  of  February  20  was  literally  true,  not 
only  at  the  opening,  but  all  tlirough  the  work  of  securing  a  new 
building:  "I  find  we  have  the  universal  sympathy  of  all  people 
here  in  our  building  operations." 

From  a  paper  found  in  the  Souvenir  and  which  the  writer 
most  likely  read  at  the  opening,  the  cost  of  the  building,  exclu- 
sive of  ground,  as  far  as  then  finished,  was  stated  to  be  some 
$17,610;  the  amount  of  cash  paid  on  this  was  $12,761,  leaving  a 
balance  due  of  $4849,  as  far  as  the  building  has  been  finished  at 
that  time.  On  February  2"]  James  Price,  the  pastor,  purchased  from 
the  congregation  a  piece  of  ground  west  of  the  church  lot,  which 
is  fully  set  forth  in  the  action  of  the  congregation  at  its  annual 
meeting  January  i,  1872,  which  will  be  noticed  in  the  history  sub- 
sequently. Before  this  property  was  purchased  one  of  the  civil 
Courts  of  Philadelphia  gave  authority  for  the  sale  by  having  pre- 
viously appointed  an  examiner  to  report  touching  the  matter. 

During  the  erection  of  the  new  building,  its  elegant  location, 
commanding  appearance,  style  of  architecture  and  other  attrac- 
tions aroused  public  notice,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  year  the  editor 
of  the  Philadelphia  Evening  pjulletin  sent  out  to  the  writer  a  spe- 
cial messenger  with  a  request  that  he  should  prepare  for  the  paper 
a  description  of  the  new  church.  This  was  done  and  it  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Pnillctin  Saturday,  May  8,  1869,  and  is  as  follows : 

"New  Church  in  Frankford. — The  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Frankford,  of  which  Rev.  James  Price  is  pastor,  have, 
for  some  time,  been  engaged  in  the  erection  of  a  new  edifice,  which 
is  now  approaching  completion,  and  which  promises  to  be  one  of 
the  handsomest  ornaments  of  the  ward.  It  is  located  at  the  cor- 
ner of  OrthcKlox  and  Franklin  streets ;  and  from  the  fact  that  the 
ground  is  high,  the  neighborhood  improving  and  the  position  cen- 
tral, the  site  is  universally  confessed  to  be  among  if  not  the  very 
choicest  in  the  i)lace.  The  style  of  architecture  selected  is  the  early 
English,  which  is  very  simple,  but  exceedingly  apjiropriate  for  the 
rural  districts  of  our  city.  The  front  part  of  the  building,  which  is 
intended  for  the  main  audience  room,  is  one-story  high,  and  the 
rear  part,  with  walls  of  a  uniform  height,  is  two  stories.  The  first 
storv  is  divided  into  four  rooms,  namely,  a  lecture  room,  which  is 


1869  FROM    FOUNDING   TO    OPENING    NFW    CHURCH.  93 

to  have  permanent  pews,  and  one  each  for  prayer-meetings,  trus- 
tees and  pastor.  These  rooms  can  all  be  thrown  into  one  by  sHd- 
ing  doors  and  sash,  affording  accommodation  for  four  hundred 
persons.  The  ceilings  of  these  rooms  will  be  about  twelve  feet 
high.  The  second  story  is  intended  for  Sabbath  school  purposes. 
This  apartment  will  also  be  divided  into  four  rooms — one  main 
Sabbath  school  room  and  three  Bible  class  roorrls,  capable  of  being 
thrown  into  one  by  sliding  sash.  Arrangements  are  also  made  to 
have  two  infant  school  rooms  in  the  third  story,  opening  into  the 
main  room  by  sliding  doors.  The  ceiling  in  the  centre  of  the  main 
Sabbath  school  room  will  be  about  sixteen  feet  high.  Between 
the  rooms  just  described  and  the  audience  chamber  there  is  a  ves- 
tibule eight  feet  wide,  containing  stairs  leading  to  the  second  story. 

"The  audience  chamber  is  41  feet  wide  and  68  feet  long  in- 
side wall.  It  is  proposed  to  have  an  end  gallery,  and  also  two 
horseshoe  galleries,  one  on  each  side  of  the  pulpit.  The  floor  is  so 
arranged  that  persons  sitting  in  the  rear  are  higher  than  in  front. 
A  tower  some  13  feet  square  rises  at  the  southeast  comer  of  the 
building,  in  front ;  from  the  ground  to  the  pinnacle  the  distance  is 
about  72  feet.  The  entraijce  to  the  audience  chamber  is  through 
this  tower  and  a  porch  in  front.  The  lecture  and  Sabbath  school 
rooms  are  approached  by  doors  in  the  sides.  Much  care  has  been 
taken  to  make  the  ventilation  as  perfect  as  possible.  There  are 
brick  flues  built  in  the  wall,  opening  at  the  floor  in  each  room,  con- 
ducting to  a  ventilator  in  the  roof,  and  into  each  of  these  flues  a 
gas-burner  can  be  lighted  should  it  be  deemed  necessary.  There 
are  also  registers  connected  with  the  outside  of  the  building  for 
the  introduction  of  fresh  air,  and  otliers  opening  at  the  ceiUng  for 
summer  ventilation.  The  walls  are  built  of  Frankford  stone,  and 
the  outside  is  finished  in  what  is  termed  rubble  work,  pointed,  with 
mortar  a  shade  lighter  than  the  stone.  Around  the  front  and  tow- 
er are  buttresses  capped  with  granite ;  window,  door-sills  and 
steps  are  of  the  same  material.  The  heads  of  all  openings  are  of 
ordinary  stone,  hammer-dressed. 

"The  dimensions  of  the  building  outside  are  as  follows : 
Length,  123  feet;  width,  45  feet;  width  front,  including  tower, 
60  feet ;  heighth  of  side  walls,  24  feet.  The  roof  is  slated.  A 
cellar  runs  under  the  entire  church.  The  walls  are  23^  feet  thick 
in  the  cellar,  allowing  6  inches  for  the  joists  to  rest  on,  thus  pre- 
venting decay  in  the  wood.  Sand  of  the  very  best  quality  was  pro- 
cured in  the  cellar  sufficient  for  the  whole  building.  The  materials 
used  in  the  construction  of  the  edifice  are  of  the  best  quality,  and 
every  part  of  the  work  has  been  done  in  a  most  substantial  man- 
ner. The  cost  of  tliis  building,  if  erected  by  contract  in  most  parts 
of  the  city,  would  probably  be  from  $30,000  to  $40,000,  but  the 
Building  Committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  owing  to  the  way 
they  have  managed  the  work,  and  on  account  of  other  things  favor- 
able, they  can  finish  for  about  $20,000.  The  lecture  room  will  be 
finished  in  a  few  weeks,  and  the  expenses  thus  far  will  be  about 


94  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1869 

$16,000.  all  of  which  have  hctii  paid  excc])t  some  $2500,  which  it 
is  hojKd  will  be  raised  at  the  opening.  The  coiifjregation,  which 
numbers  about  one  hundred  members,  have  been  working  ener- 
getically, and  they  rejoice  to  say  that  tliey  have  met  with  uinversal 
sympathy  in  tlie  community.  The  main  features  of  the  present 
plan  of  the  building  are  the  fruit  of  the  pastor's  study  and  care- 
ful observation  for  years,  wherever  he  has  traveled ;  but  too  much 
praise  cannot  be  given  to  the  architect.  J-  H.  Windrim.  Esq.,  of 
Masonic  Temple  celebrity,  who  has  clothed  the  pastor's  idea  with 
order  and  beauty,  combining  simplicity  with  elegance,  and  com- 
modiousness  with  economy." 

There  was  during  this  year  but  one  death  in  the  congregation, 
but  this  was  the  sudden  and  lamented  departure  of  one  of  the 
most  lovely  and  useful  young  ladies  in  the  congregation,  Mis» 
Anna  B.  Cooper. 

She  w'as  seized  with  typhoid  fever  May  5,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  best  medical  care  and  nursing,,  the  disease  continued  with 
increasing  violence  until  her  end.  Her  funeral  was  a  large  one; 
in  the  procession  there  was  a  great  number  of  carriages  and  many 
persons  were  found  walking.  During  the  period  of  the  funeral 
many  of  the  stores  in  the  vicinity  of  the  home  of  the  deceased 
were  closed,  as  she  was  well  known  and  beloved.  Quite  a  number 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  ministers  of  the  city  were  present,  to- 
gether with  some  from  sister  congregations  in  Frankford.  and 
the  ser\'ices  were  very  impressive.  On  the  following  Sabbath, 
May  23,  the  writer  endeavored  to  improve  this  sad  event  in  a 
memorial  sermon,  based  on  Matthew  9,  24,  "For  the  maid  is  not 
dead,  but  sleepeth."  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  dis- 
course : 

"Most  unexpected  to  me,  as  doubtless  to  you,  is  it  that  I  am 
called  this  day  to  apply  these  truths  to  ourselves  and  especially  to 
this  afflicted  family.  She  whose  loss  we  to-day  mourn  was  cer- 
tainly the  last  we  should  have  selected  as  likely  to  so  soon  illustrate 
this  particular  passage  of  Holy  Scriptures.  For  weeks,  indeed,  she 
had  been  ailing,  and  for  days  she  had  been  apparently  at  death's 
door;  yet  her  youth,  her  strength,  tlie  careful  attention  she  re- 
ceived and  her  occasional  gleams  of  playfulness  gave  hope  that 
she  might  recover  to  cheer  her  friends  and  work  in  God's  vine- 
yard. But  while  we  were  looking  for  life  death  comes  and  takes 
her  from  our  midst.  Seldom  has  the  departure  of  so  young  a 
person  ;  of  one  who  moved  quietly  along  in  the  ordinary  walks 
of  life;  of  one  unknown  to  fame  and  fortune,  created  such  a  pro- 
found sensation.  From  what  I  have  seen  and  heard  I  hesitate 
not  to  say  that  this  town  has  been  literally  moved ;  expressions  of 
sorrow  and  sympathy  have  come  fmm  all  quarters  and  from  all 
kinds  of  people. 


1869  FROM    FOUNDING   TO    OPENING    NFW    CHURCH.  95- 

"And  no  wonder,  for  she  possessed  just  that  sort  of  character 
not  very  often  found,  but  when  found  sure  to  render  its  possessor 
a  universal  favorite.  This  young  maiden  was  admired  by  the 
young  and  the  old,  the  grave  and  the  gay,  the  rich  and  the  poor. 
She  was  equally  at  home  in  the  kitchen  or  the  parlor ;  superin- 
tending the  Primary  Sabbath  school  or  working  with  the  pen  or 
needle  for  Christ.  She  won  the  heart,  whether  sitting  smiling  by 
the  bedside  of  the  poor  and  sick,  dispensing  her  little  gifts, 
or  leading  the  festivities  of  the  brilliant  company  at  an  evening, 
party. 

"The  task  has  naturally  fallen  to  me  of  trying  to  improve  this 
visitation  for  our  instruction  and  comfort.  I  could  in  one  sense 
wish  that  some  other  one  had  stood  in  this  pulpit  to-day.  I  should 
rather  sit  down  in  the  pew  with  mourning  friends  and  mingle  my 
tears  with  theirs,  as  I  have  been  doing  for  these  past  days.  My 
intimate  acquaintance  and  intercourse  w  ith  the  deceased  as  a  mem- 
ber of  her  mother's  household  for  many  years  makes  me  feel  as 
though  I  had  just  laid  a  sister  in  the  grave.  With  her  I  have  read, 
reasoned,  Avorked,  visited,  romped,  sung,  laughed  and  wept. 

"Still,  as  her  pastor,  I  esteem  it  a  privilege  as  well  as  my 
duty  to  seize  the  graces  and  virtues  of  her  character  before  they 
pass  into  forgetfulness  and  hold  them  up  to  you,  the  living  of  to- 
day, and  especially  to  those  of  her  own  age  and  sex,  that  they 
may  form  additional  ornaments  of  your  character.  Anna  B. 
Cooper  was  not  without  her  faults.  Who  is?  Yet  hers  were  so 
few — they  so  much  arose  from  circumstances  over  which  she  had 
not  entire  control ;  they  were  also  so  temporary  and  likely  to  be 
removed — that  in  a  general  estimate  of  her  character  we  dare  not 
let  them  weigh  much  in  our  minds, 

"Her  prominent  traits  were  those  which  are  always  most  ad- 
mired by  the  sensible  and  good  of  either  sex,  which  are  most  need- 
ed to  benefit  society  and  make  home  happy ;  but  which,  I  am 
pained  to  say,  are  seldomest  found  among  the  young  women  of 
our  day.  Nature  had  done  much  for  this  young  person  and 
parental  and  Christian  culture  had  but  improved  the  gifts.  To  a 
tall  and  graceful  person  and  an  open,  lovely  countenance,  there 
were  added  attractive  manners  and  a  constant  desire  to  please. 
Had  she  moved  in  the  circles  of  wealth  or  chosen  for  her  compan- 
ions the  daughters  of  fashion,  she  might  have  become  noted  on 
Chestnut  street ;  but  that  she  did  not  do  this  only  develops  one  of 
her  graces. 

"She  lived  for  a  higher  object  than  life's  gaieties.  The  danc- 
ing school,  the  ball-room  and  the  theatre  had  few  attractions  for 
her.  It  was  only  in  the  more  simple  or  homelike  companies  that 
she  found  pleasure  in  an  evening.  She  might  have  been  seen  wan- 
dering with  an  absent  mind  in  the  brilliant  salon,  surrounded  by 
scores  of  her  attractive  sisters,  herself,  unconsciously,  the  most  at- 
tractive of  all.  And  the  same  spirit  was  manifested  with  reference 
to  accomplishments,  dress  and  the  w'orld's  possessions.    Furnished 


96  SEVENTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  18G9 

with  a  g"oo<l,  plain  education  and  still  aiminj^  to  iini)rovc'  herself  in 
the  arts  which  might  he  useful  in  the  Church  or  the  family,  she 
cared  nothing-  for  those  fashionable  accomplishments  upon  which 
so  much  expense  and  labor  are  often  lavished  in  vain.  In  her 
dress  she  was  exceedingly  neat,  simple  and  economical,  willing  to 
deny  herself  where  she  could  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  Where  she 
had  seen  one  of  her  vain  sisters  pass  along  the  streets  arrayed  in  all 
the  novelties  of  a  low,  worldly  taste,  she  had  exclaimed:  "I 
would  be  ashamed  to  be  seen  dressed  in  that  way.' 

"She  w^as  exceedingly  amiable  and  kind  to  all.  She  would 
not  stoop  to  a  mean  thing,  nor  would  she  allow  herself  to  be  un- 
necessarily despised  ;  yet  pride  found  in  her  little  c|uarter.  She 
suited  herself  to  the  company  in  which  she  might  be  placed  and 
never  esteemed  any,  whatever  their  age,  color  or  circumstances, 
beneath  her  notice.  She  was  respectful  to  the  aged,  playful  with 
the  young  and  alw^ays  had  a  smile  and  a  kind  word  for  everyone. 
And  nowhere  were  these  qualities  more  conspicuous  than  in  her 
treatment  of  her  parents.  For  them  she  cherished  through  life 
the  most  profound  respect  and  affection.  She  consulted  them  even 
in  trifles ;  she  could  not  dare  to  contradict  them,  and  would  have 
scorned  to  act  contrary  to  their  wull, 

"She  excelled  in  the  perfonnance  of  domestic  duties.  These 
she  studied  and  practiced,  both  from  obligation  and  pleasure,  and 
in  them  she  became  proficient.  There  was  nothing  with  which 
she  was  not  familiar  in  the  whole  range  of  household  management. 
Young  as  she  was,  she  could  have  taken  entire  charge  of  any  such 
establishment.  This  is  a  piece  of  female  accomi>lishment  which, 
1  am  sorry  to  say,  is  held  far  below  par  in  our  best  families,  and 
which  is  very  much  banished  from  our  female  lx)arding  schools. 
And  in  the  case  of  her  of  whom  I  speak,  what  gave  symmetr)*  and 
consistency  to  these  traits  was  good,  sound  common  sense. 

"But  what  crowned  all  attainments  was  her  simple  heart  piety. 
She  never,  indeed,  made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  by  uniting 
herself  with  the  Church,  and  in  this  we  cannot  defend  her.  But 
we  may  be  allowed  to  say  she  evidently  felt  this  to  be  her  duty ; 
she  had  for  months  before  her  sickness  intended  to  take  this  step, 
and  beyond  question  would  have  done  it  had  .she  been  spared. 
Hap])ily,  however,  we  have  plenty  of  evidence  that  she  jK>ssessed 
that  of  which  outward  ])rofession  is  only  the  sign.  Carefully 
trained  in  her  youth  as  to  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  she 
illustrated  them  in  heart  and  life.  She  loved  her  Bible  and  was 
in  the  habit  of  reading  it  daily.  I  can  scarcely  remember  an  in- 
stance in  all  the  eleven  years  during  which  I  was  a  member  of  her 
mother's  family  in  which  she  was  absent  from  the  church  service 
or  the  social  prayer-meeting,  luiless  ];)rovi(lcntially  hindered.  At 
her  death  she  was  collector  of  the  weekly  contributions  of  tliis 
congregation  for  our  new  building;  as  also  Superintendent  (^f  the 
Primary  Department  of  our  Sabbath  Schools,  where  she  endeared 
herself  to  the  little  children.     She  was  liberal,  as  far  as  she  had 


MISS     .A.N>;.V     15.    fOOI'I^K 


1869  FROM    FOUNDING   TO    OPENING    NEW    CHUKCH.  97 

the  means,  in  giving  to  the  cause  of  her  Master ;  and  for  those 
who  were  too  narrow  and  selfish  to  give  when  they  had  the  means, 
she  had  disapprobation  and  pity. 

"But  it  was  toward  the  dose  of  her  Hfe  that  her  Christian 
virtues  appear  the  brightest,  and  the  evidences  of  her  interest  in 
Jesus  and  preparation  for  Heaven  were  most  unquestioned.  Dis- 
ease a  few  weeks  ago  admonished  her  to  keep  the  house ;  it  very 
soon  after  laid  her  on  her  bed  and  seized  her  system  with  tremen- 
dous violence ;  even  sometimes  ascending  to  and  making  reason 
totter  on  her  throne.  During  days  and  nights  her  mind  wanders ; 
but,  happily,  down  to  the  last  she  still  has  her  little  bright  seasons, 
when  reason  shines  out  clear.  It  was  my  privilege  during  her  last 
sickness  to  be  at  her  bedside  much  of  the  time  day  and  night,  until 
she  departed.  On  one  occasion  she  desired  me,  when  sitting  by 
her  side  protecting  her  from  imaginary  dangers,  to  pray  with  her. 
I  did  so,  and  in  calmness  her  heart  appeared  to  rise  with  me  to 
our  Father.  At  another  time  I  read  to  her  the  23d  Psalm  and  said 
to  her:  'Anna,  what  Psalm  is  that?'  Bewildered  by  the  disease, 
she  could  not  tell,  but  said:  'It  was  that  one  which  began  "The 
Lord  is  my  Shepherd."  '  At  another  time,  with  tears  in  her  eyes 
and  a  sad,  sweet  face,  she  looked  up  at  her  mother  and  said :  'O, 
if  I  could  only  remain  conscious  long  enough  to  pray.'  The  day 
she  passed  away  I  inquired :  'Anna,  are  you  afraid  to  die?'  'No,' 
she  answered.  'Why,  are  you  not  afraid  ?'  Her  answer  was : 
'Because  I  have  given  my  heart  to  Jesus.' 

"Never,  perhaps,  was  the  language  of  my  text  more  exempli- 
fied in  anyone  than  in  the  case  of  her  d|eparture.  While  her 
mother  and  I  sat  by  her  bedside,  I  with  hands  locked  in  hers  try- 
ing to  calm  Nature's  convulsions  which  shook  her  so  violently, 
gradually  all  struggles  ceased  and  while  we  were  congratulating 
each  other  on  the  sweet  rest  she  was  enjoying  and  the  prospect 
of  her  being  better  next  day,  she  was  really  reposing  in  death  and 
I  was  unconsciously  holding  the  hands  of  a  dead  girl.  She  lit- 
erally, but  imperceptibly  to  us,  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  not  to  awake  or 
be  disturbed  till  these  heavens  be  no  more. 

"Christian  parents,  this  event  has  a  lesson  for  you.  Would 
you  have  your  children  to  be  ornaments  of  society,  a  blessing  to 
the  Church  and  a  comfort  to  yourselves  even  in  death,  train  them 
in  those  sweet  graces  which  this  person  possessed.  People  of  this 
congregation,  the  event  speaks  to  us  loud,  and  it  has  been  sent  at  a 
special  time  and  for  a  special  purpose.  Cease  to  agitate  a  little 
family  matter,  which  is  disturbing  the  congregation,  and  work 
in  preparation  for  eternity.  Sabbath  school  workers,  we  have 
lost  one  of  the  youngest  but  most  efficient  of  our  members — let 
us  close  our  ranks  again  and  battle  for  the  cause. 

"Young  persons  present,  this  visitation  especially  addresses 
you.  The  favorite,  and  one  of  the  youngest  of  your  band,  is 
taken  from  you  ;  but  from  Heaven  she  sends  a  message  to  you  to- 
day.   Anna  B.  Cooper  said  on  her  dying  bed  :  'I  do  love  Jesus ;  if 


98  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1869 

ever  I  pet  well  I  will  try  and  love  Him  more  and  serve  Him  better.' 
She,  from  yonder  bright  world,  looks  down  and  speaks  to  you 
and  pleads  with  you  to  do  as  she  would  have  done  if  she  had  been 
l)ermitted  to  remain  by  your  side.  Will  you  do  it  ?  I  think  all 
heaven  must  tremble  if  you  say  No.  li  you  continue  to  live  in 
neg^lect.  the  memory  of  this  sweet  dt^)artcd  pfirl  will  haunt  and 
reproach  you  day  and  nig'ht.  And  now,  my  hearers,  I  have  done. 
Anna  Cooper's  form  we  shall  never  see  again  here  below ;  but 
henceforth  we  shall  write  her  name  among^  the  saints  of  God. 
Farewell,  lovely  young-  woman,  we  will  cherish  your  memor)',  fol- 
low your  exami>le  and.  in  the  hope  of  meeting  you,  we  will,  till 
then,  consoe  ourselves  with  the  heavenly  truth  that  'the  maid  is  not 
dead,  but  sleepeth.'  " 

The  amount  contributed  for  annual  congregation  expenses 
ending  April  i,  1869,  was  $3320.00;  total  offerings  for  the  year, 
$4076 ;  average  per  member  $45.28,  the  largest  in  Presbyter)'  ex- 
cept one.  As  in  the  previous  year,  the  pastor,  it  is  believed,  was 
not  absent  from  the  pulpit  a  single  Sabbath  except  one.  when  he 
was  attending  a  meeting  of  Synod  ;  and  this  was  true  in  other 
years.  He  often  took  no  vacation  and  frequently  preached  three 
times  on  Sabbath. 

The  lireacluT  this  year  had.  indeed,  his  joys.  People  ever)-- 
where  smiled  on  his  efforts  to  erect  a  church  and  poured  in  the 
money  by  hundreds,  even  thousands,  of  dollars.  Still  he  was  not 
without  his  trials.  A  part  of  the  record  of  Sabbath,  February  20, 
is :  "O,  that  God  would  send  the  Spirit ;  sinners'  hearts  are  hard. 
What  can  poor  ministers  do?" 

That  of  another  Lord's  day  is :  "Very  cold,  but  full  house 
all  day,  and  pretty  good  attention.  Some  young  persons  still  mis- 
behave." Sabbath,  March  28 — "Tried  to  induce  some  bad  boys 
CO  come  into  Sabbath  school ;  they  mocked  me.  Lord  bless  the 
advice  and  papers  I  gave  them."  April  4.  Sabbath — "Very  blustry 
day.  Tin  ventilator  on  roof  of  Baird's  Hall  tried  to  rival  preacli- 
er's  voice."  April  18 — "The  nicer  the  weather  the  worse  often 
the  attendance  in  afternoon."  April  2/ — "Spoke  at  funeral  of 
.Mrs.  C,  a  careless  woman,  who  wanted  no  minister  and  died  say- 
ing she  was  happy." 

April  10 — "A  mother  complains  that  her  daughter,  a  mem- 
ber of  our  church,  who  is  neglecting  duty,  has  been  led  away  by 
worldly  young  men."    June  16 — "X'isited  and  conversed  with  Miss 

on  personal   religion.      Had   trouble,  she   said,   with   a 

schoolgirl  and  felt  unforgiving.  Had  sought  Christ  and  did  not 
find  Him.     Promised  to  seek  Him  with  her  whole  heart."     The 


1869  FROM    FOUNDING   TO    OPFNING   NEW   CHURCH.  99 

record  of  Sabbath,  June  27,  is :     "Miss  ,  mentioned  in 

above  record  of  June  16,  left  a  letter  in  my  hat  at  church  relating 
to  her  personal  history,  which  is  really  strange  and  romantic."  On 
July  5  this  same  person  applied  for  membership  in  the  Church. 
Pastor  spoke  pointedly  to  her  to  beware  of  self-deception  and 
afterward  advised  her  to  wait.  She  never  again  applied.  Such 
was  this  happy,  anxious  year,  1869. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FROM  THE  OPENING  OF  THE  NEW  CHURCH  TO  THE 
PASTOR'S  ENTERING  HIS  OWN  HOUSE,  1869-1872. 

At  the  opening  of  the  year  1870  we,  as  a  congregation,  found 
ourselves  happily  housed  in  our  new  and  elegant  church,  and 
although  only  our  lecture  and  adjoining  rooms  on  first  floor  had 
been  finished,  yet  never  before  had  we  been  so  comfortably  fixed 
and  prepared  for  effective  church  work.  The  church  lawn  being 
quite  extensive  and  capable  of  being  much  beautified,  the  pastor, 
occasionally  assisted  by  a  few  friends,  occupied  his  spare  hours 
from  study  in  sodding  borders  and  fixing  walks. 

A  more  important  work,  however,  was  to  have  the  Sabbath 
school  room,  in  the  second  story,  finished.  The  public  opening  of 
this  elegant  apartment  took  place  on  the  afternoon  of  May  22, 
1870,  which  proved  to  be  a  beautiful,  sunshiny  day.  The  schools 
leaving  Baird's  Hall  were  delighted  to  get  into  their  own  home. 
A  few  strangers  were  present  at  the  opening,  when  the  pastor 
preached  a  sermon,  he  thinks,  to  the  young  people.  The  collec- 
tion for  the  Building  Fund  at  this  service  was  $25.47.  All  were 
delighted  with  the  new  room,  and  some  thought  it  the  choicest 
place  in  which  to  hold  the  preaching  service. 

In  our  Building  Fund  straits  some  of  the  old  friends  who  had 
frequently  given  before,  again  came  tO'  our  aid.  The  following 
gave  $100  each :  Elliott  Brothers,  Philadelphia ;  Isaac  McGay, 
New  York ;  James  Price,  the  pastor.  The  following  gave  $50 
each :  Samuel  Kennedy,  Samuel  Thornton,  the  Misses  Mclntyre, 
Edward  T.  Mason,  Joseph  D.  McKee  and  quite  a  number  of  others 
gave  smaller  amounts. 

The  journal  has  this  tnXxy  April  29 :  "Had  a  meeting  at 
John  J.  Stewart's  about  the  building.  Agreed  to  pray  daily  at 
noon  and  to  meet  every  two  weeks  to  receive  whatever  the  people 
would  give  to  the  following  special  collectors  now  appointed : 
John  J.  Stewart,  Mary  Stewart,  Mrs.  M.  M.  Cooper,  Ellen  Ful- 

tiZMl." 


102  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CIILUCH.  1870 

For  tlic  benefit  of  the  Building-  Fund  a  fair  was  held  in 
Baird's  New  Hall,  Green  street  (Mr.  Baird,  as  usual  giving-  it  free 
of  rent),  beginning  November  3,  1870.  As  this  was  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  and  successful  efforts  of  the  kind  in  the  history  of 
the  congrcg-ation,  wc  must  quote  here  the  Fair  Circular,  as  it  gives 
a  picture  of  the  methods  adopted  and  of  the  delightful  sympathy 
of  other  churches  and  the  people  of  Frankford.     It  is  as  follows: 

FAIR 

OF  THE  FRANKFORD  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN 

CHURCH. 

REV.  JAMES  PRICE.  PASTOR. 


The  pastor  and  people  of  this  congregation  beg  leave  to  ten- 
der their  most  hearty  thanks  to  the  people  of  Frankford  and  vicin- 
ity for  their  liberal  and  repeated  aid,  and  to  inform  them  that  the 
lecture  and  Sabbath  school  rooms  are  open  every  Sabbath,  and 
are  quite  well  filled  with  w^orshipers.  The  pews  are  not  rented, 
but  free,  the  church  being  supported  by  voluntary  subscriptions 
and  contributions,  and  all  j^ersons  will  be  made  welcome  who  wish 
to  come  and  worship  with  us.  We  are  happy  to  inform  die  public, 
that  by  united  and  unwearied  exertion  and  the  aid  of  friends,  we 
have  paid  all  bills  almost  as  fast  as  presented.  There  only  remain 
two  bills,  amounting  to  about  $2000.  which,  it  is  expected,  the 
contractors  will  soon  present.  These  are  the  only  claims  against 
the  building  or  g-round.  and  we  wish  to  keep  out  of  debt,  which 
mostly  proves  a  terrii)le  burden  to  churches. 

The  ladies  of  the  congregation,  with  some  little  hesitation, 
appeal  to  the  public  again  ;  but  relying  on  the  excellence  of  their 
cause  and  a  generous  community,  have  resolved  to  hold  a  fair  on 
October  or  November  of  this  year  for  the  above  object.  They  are 
happy  to  say  that  they  have  already  met  with  the  kindest  sympathy 
and  promises  of  aid.  Many  ladies  of  other  denominations  have 
kindly  volunteered  their  services,  and  are  now  meeting  with  us 
every  Thurs<lay  afternoon  in  our  new  scluxil  room,  for  sewing 
and  other  i)reparation ;  and  we  hereby  extend  a  hearty  invitation 
to  ladies  in  the  town  favorable  to  our  work,  and  who  may  find  it 
convenient,  to  meet  with  us  at  the  al>ove  time  and  place. 

It  is  the  wish  and  will  be  the  aim  of  persons  in  charge  of  the 
fair  to  present  as  many  useful  articles  as  possible  for  sale,  al- 
though the  fancy  will  not  be  overlooked,  .\mong  other  tables 
they  will  endeavor  to  have  distinct  ones  for  glass  and  china,  tin, 
wood  ware,  etc. 

The  co-operation  of  friends  everywhere,  as  well  as  the  sym- 
pathy and  gifts,  of  all  benevolent  individuals,  however  small,  arc 
earnestly  solicited. 

Persons  receiving  this  cirailar  are  invited  to  make  or  donate 
some  article  for  the  fair;  a  piece  of  tin,,  glass,  wood,  iron-ware  or 


1870  OPENING    CHURCH    TO    ENTERING    OE    PARSONAGE.  103 

fancy  article.  Please  search  your  store  or  house,  and  see  if  you 
cannot  find  something  to  aid  this  good  object. 

Donations  may  be  sent  to  any  of  the  undersigned  Committee, 
in  money,  clothing,  provisions,  furniture,  tin,  china,  glass,  wood- 
ware,  perfumery,  confections,  books,  pictures,  needles  or  fancy 
work. 

Mrs.  Margaret  M.  Cooper,  4428  Frankford  Avenue,  Frank- 
ford. 

Mrs.  M.  H.  Taylor,  4238  Frankford  Avenue,  Frankford. 

Miss  Ellen  D.  J.  Hogeland,  4509  Franklin  St.,  Frankford. 

Mrs.  Mary  Stewart,  4512  Penn  St.,  Frankford. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Stratton,  4315  Frankford  Avenue,  Frankford. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  W.  Thorn,  78  Adams  St.,  Frankford. 

Miss  Anna  Murray,  4439  Frankford  Avenue,  Frankford. 

Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Duffield,  Cor.  Paul  and  Tacony  Sts.,  Frankford. 

Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Stinson,  948  Franklin  St.,  Phila. 

Mrs.  Ann,  Jane  Skilton,  530  South  Second  St.,  Phila. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Julian,  1826  Mount  Vernon  St.,  Phila. 

The  journal  has  this  entry  November  3 :  "Thursday — Fair 
opened  this  evening  in  lower  room  of  Baird's  Hall ;  not  many 
present  on  account  of  concert  in  room  above ;  took  in  $20.  Room 
handsomely  trimmed  with  greens,  flags,  etc.,  under  direction  of 
Miss  Mary  Murray.  The  excitement  connected  witli  these  fairs 
is  great.  I  can  hardly  sleep  some  nights."  It  is  probable  that  this 
was  one  of  the  fairs  at  which  sister  churches  in  Frankford  had 
tables  representing  their  denominations.  The  fair  was  open  over 
two  weeks,  or  until  Saturday  evening,  November  19.  The  jour- 
nal of  the  writer  has  this  to  say  as  to  the  close :  "Fair  closed  this 
evening,  a  good  number  being  present.  Two  violin  artists,  Messrs. 
James  Seddons  and  John  Murray,  discoursed  sweet  music.  There 
was  some  fashionable  promenading  by  yoa.mg  men  and  young, 
charming  ladies ;  some  with  hair  flowing  loosely  down  their  backs." 
Had  a  very  pleasant  fair  all  through ;  chancing  was  forbidden,  and, 
as  money  was  scarce,  did  not  realize  as  much  as  we  anticipated. 

A  Frankford  paper,  styled  the  "Bee,"  of  Saturday,  November 
12,  has  the  following  notice,  who  the  smiling- faced  young  lady 
referred  to  might  be  the  writer  cannot  remember :  "The  fair  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church  is  still  in  progress  at  Baird's  Hall. 
This  enterprising  congregation  should  have  the  hearty  support  of 
all  our  citizens.  Their  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Price,  is  enterprising  and 
a  hard  worker  in  the  good  cause.  We  sincerely  hope  the  fair  will 
be  as  profitable  as  it  is  pleasant.  The  young  lady  who  has  charge 
of  the  ice  cream  department  at  Baird's  Hall  always  has  her  de- 
partment full  of  customers.     It  is  accounted  for  only  that  her 


104  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTEKIAN    CHURCH.  1870 

pretty  face  always  has  a  smile  flitting'  over  it,  and  her  pleasant 
manners  make  her  a  favorite  among  all  visitors.'' 

The  following  is  the  rep)ort  of  fair  receipts  in  the  various  de- 
partnients.  The  tables  took  in  as  here  mentioned:  Refreshment, 
$103.14;  Book,  $36.94;  Wood,  $32.32;  Toys,  $20.92;  tin,  $62.33; 
Glass,  $44.37;  Perfumery,  $51.01;  Dry  Goods,  $22.82;  Fancy, 
$53.79;  Young  Men's,  $26.42.  The  other  departments  were  as 
follows  :  Amusement.  $20.01  ;  Bible  for  Young  Men,  $22.45  ;  Q^i^^ 
for  James  Price,  $13.40;  Tickets,  $132.63;  Donations,  $35.56. 
Total,  $678.10.  On  December  20  $500,  the  proceeds  thus  far  of 
the  fair,  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Building 
Fund.  Many  of  the  things  remaining  over  were  placed  in  Mr. 
Daniel  Murphy's  store  and  sold  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  M.  M. 
Cooper  for  the  benefit  of  the  church,  so  that  the  receipts  were 
afterward  largely  increased. 

The  death  of  Miss  Mary  Jane  Price,  the  pastor's  sister,  on 
December  6,  1870,  was  an  event  which  saddened  his  heart  and 
cast  a  gloom  over  the  congregation.  While  attending  Mount 
Union  College,  Ohio,  or  afterward,  while  engaged  in  teacliing, 
she  caught  a  cold,  which  developed  into  consumption.  In  the  be- 
ginning of  this  year  the  writer  brought  her  to  Frankford,  where 
she  worshiix'd  with  the  congregation  when  able.  Although  a 
brother  makes  the  statement  as  to  his  only  sister,  he  cannot  help 
saying  she  was  an  attractive,  educated,  amiable  young  woman. 
Our  Philadelphia  ministers  attended  the  funeral,  and  Drs.  Dales 
and  Cooper  made  addresses  over  the  body  in  the  church. 

Some  quite  liberal  sums  to  meet  final  building  payments  were 
received  from  old  friends  of  the  pastor  who  had  already  given  a 
number  of  times  before,  and  whicli  will  appear,  from  the  following 
extracts  of  letters  and  subscriptions  at  this  time  on  the  pastor's 
book.    Charles  Porter,  of  Porter  &  Dickey,  writes  March  3,  1871  : 

"Your  kind  favor  of  yesterday  received.  W'as  glad  to  hear 
you  were  succeeding  so  well  in  raising  funds.  Enclosed  find 
check  for  $100."  Mr.  Isaac  McGay,  of  New  York  city,  writes 
February  2"^,  1871  :  "Your  note  just  to  hand,  and  I  have  only 
time  to  say  that  you  may  set  me  down  for  $ioo.  I  will  speak  to 
Mr.  Henry  Harrison.  Please  let  me  know  when  you  must  have 
the  cash  and  you  will  soon  hear  from  me."  Another  letter  was 
written  by  the  same  person  May  4,  from  which  we  make  the  fol- 
lowing extract:  "I  asked  Mr.  Henry  Harrison  to  lend  a  hand 
also,  which  he  very  cheerfully  did,  saying  that  he  is  always  will- 


:klISS    HIAJIY    JVN'K    PRICE 


1871         OPENING    CHURCH    TO    ENTERING    OF    PARSONAGE.  105' 

ing  and  ready  to  help  those  ministers  and  people  who  are  honestly  * 

maintaining  the  principles  of  truth.  Enclosed  please  find  check 
for  $200,  half  from  Mr.  Harrison  and  half  from  myself.  We  are 
glad  you  have  such  a  fine  building." 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  letter  of  James  McCandless, 
dated  April  26,  1871  :  "Recently  in  reading,  a  Latin  maxim  was 
brought  to  my  notice  which  I  thought  pretty  good,  'Bis  dat  qui  cite 
dat.'  Acting  upon  it  I  enclose  you  my  mite  ($50),  which,  please 
accept  with  the  wish  that  you  may  speedily  receive  the  necessary 
amount  to  relieve  your  financial  wants." 

The  following  are  extracts  from  letters  of  this  year  from 
Dr.  John  B.  Dales,  pastor  of  Second  U.  P.  Church,  Philadelphia, 
March  28,  1871 :  "You  may  put  our  family  down  again  in  your 
subscription  book  for  $50.  We  will  send  you  the  money  in  a  short 
time.  We  could  wish  it  were  far  more.  A  people  that  have  tried 
to  help  themselves  as  you  have  been  doing  fromi  the  beginning, 
ought  to  have  the  help  of  others."  The  other  letter  is  dated  April 
4 :  "Please  find  herewith  $50,  the  amount  of  my  own  and  my 
family's  renewed  subscription  for  your  church.  We  only  regret 
that  it  is  not  a  larger  sum, ;  and  it  goes  to  you,  I  assure  you,  with 
the  heart's  desire  and  prayer  unto  God  that  your  people  may  be 
helped  entirely  and  happily  through  your  work."  We  also  re- 
ceived during  these  final  payment  months  $100  each  from  David 
B.  Ervin,  Philadelphia ;  Richard  Garsed,  Frankford,  and  James* 
Price,  pastor.  From  the  following  we  received  $50  each  at  this 
time,  which,  in  most  cases,  was  a  renewed  subscription :  Thomas 
Stinson,  Elliott  Brothers,  Alexander  Ervin,  James  Moore,  John 
Alexander,  Joseph  D.  McKee,  and  from  many  others  smaller 
amounts. 

The  writer  about  this  time  being  invited  to  an  evening  tea  at 
William  Welsh's,  Esq.,  on  Strawberry  Hill,  was  asked  particularly 
by  Miss  Julia  Welsh,  afterwards  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Vibbert,  to  de- 
scribe what  she  termed  our  "Cottage  Meetings,"  with  which  we 
seemed  to  be  more  successful  than  any  other  congregation  in 
Frankford. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Presb3'tery  of 
Philadelphia  was  held  in  the  Frankford  Church  April  10  and  11 
this  year,  and  also  an  adjourned  meeting  May  4.  These  meetings 
were  quite  fully  attended  and  much  important  business  was  trans- 
acted. At  both  these  meetings  the  ladies  of  the  congregation  had 
prepared  an  elegant  dinner  for  the  members  and  friends  in  atten- 


106  SEVIvNTH    UMTKO    rRlCSItYTKKIAN    CHURCH.  1871 

dance  on  the  Presbytery,  and  at  the  first  meetinp  also  a  supper. 
About  this  time  Mr.  Samuel  Teas,  as  an  elder  of  the  congregation, 
resigned,  and  receipted  his  certificates,  which  left  the  Session  of 
the  congregation  with  only  one  ruling  elder,  Daniel  Murphy,  and 
the  pastor  as  moderator;  and,  on  request,  the  Presbytery  apix)inted 
George  B.  Skilton,  of  the  First  Church,  and  James  McCartney,  of 
the  Ninth,  to  meet  with  and  aid  the  Frankford  Session. 

An  event  of  considerable  interest  to  the  congregation  and 
still  more  to  the  pastor  this  year  was  his  marriage  to  Mrs.  Anna 
Robertson  Cannon,  at  the  residence  of  her  mother,  Mrs.  Mary 
Roliertson,  of  Coila,  N.  Y.,  September  7th,  1871.  As  stated 
in  an  early  part  of  this  sketch  the  writer  met  Miss  Anna  E. 
Robertson  in  1856  when  on  a  collecting  tour  to  secure  money 
for  the  payment  of  the  old  P>aptist  Church  building,  which  our 
congregation  had  purchased.  Miss  Robertson,  who  had  two 
brothers  in  the  State  of  Texas,  went  to  that  place  about  1859, 
and  some  time  after  she  became  united  in  marriage  with  Al- 
phonso  Cannon,  M.  D.,  of  Hempstead,  Texas. 

During  the  American  Rebellion  Dr.  Catinon,  not  wishing  to 
join  the  Confederate  army,  moved  to  Mexico  and  there  practiced 
his  profession  until  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1865,  when  he  re- 
turned to  his  old  home  in  Texas,  and  there,  shortly  after  he 
died.  Mrs.  Cannon  now  returned  to  her  mother's  home  in  Coila, 
•  where  the  writer's  acquaintance  with  her  was  renewed.  This 
lady  was  vmusually  attractive,  both  in  personal  appearance  ami 
manners.  The  marriage  took  place  just  at  the  close  of  a  meeting 
of  the  New  York  Synod.  The  members  of  that  body,  having 
got  information  of  the  coming  affair,  joked  the  writer  over  what 
was  about  to  take  place. 

After  a  short  trip  to  Eastern  cities  he  and  his  wife  came  to 
Frankford  and  were  most  cordially  and  enthusiastically  received 
by  the  congregation  and  by  hosts  of  friends  outside.  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Arnold,  a  member  of  the  congregation,  on  first  meeting  the 
pastor  after  his  return  in  her  free,  jolly  and  large-hearted  way 
gently  slapped  him  on  the  back  and  intimated  he  had  successfully 
hid  this  matter  from  the  people. 

At  the  fall  Communion  seventeen  new  members  were  re- 
ceived, the  largest  number  ever  taken  in  at  one  time  in  the  history 
of  the  congregation  so  far,  and  the  total  number  received  this 
year,  from  February  to  November,  was  23. 

The   report  of  the  congregation  to  the  General   Assembly, 


-MKr^.     .\NN.\      K.     (ANNOM 


1872  OPENING    CHURCH    TO    ENTERING    OF    PARSONAGE.  107 

April  1st,  1871,  showed  communicants,  91  ;  salary  to  be  raised  by 
cong-regation,  $700,  as  fixed  by  Assembly ;  additional  salary  from 
Assembly,  $225 ;  amount  raised  for  congregational  purposes, 
$1112.  Total  oflFerings  for  year  $1878.  Average  per  member, 
$20.63. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  congregation,  as  required  by  the 
charter,  was,  as  usual,  held  in  the  new  church,  January  ist,  1872, 
and  among  those  present  were :  R.  H.  Lackey,  Charles  McLean, 
James  Smith,  Margaret  M.  Cooper,  Margaret  M.  Taylor,  William 
Martin,  Ellen  Fulton,  John  J.  Stewart.  Daniel  Murphy  was 
elected  a  Trustee  for  three  years,  and  James  T.  Ross  was  chosen 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Charles  M.  Cooper.  The  Sabbath 
School  room  having,  as  usual,  been  beautifully  trimmed,  an  an- 
nual festival  was  held.  The  room  is  declared  to  have  been 
verv  full  and  the  exercises  most  enjoyable.  At  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  congregation  the  reports  of  Daniel  Murphy,  the  Treasurer 
for  the  vear  ending  December  31st,  1871,  were  quite  full  and  satis- 
factory, and  of  more  than  usual  interest. 

The  following  statement  was  also  made  by  the  Treasurer 
touching  the  cost  of  the  grounds  and  bviilding  of  the  new  church : 
Paid  for  church  lots :  For  60  feet  from  Louis  Brous,  $2000 ;  60 
feet  from  Thomas  B.  Taylor,  $1800.  Total  for  ground,  $3800. 
Cost  of  building  as  far  as  finished,  $18,705.75.  Total  cost  of  lots 
and  building,  $22,505.75,  on  which  has  been  paid  $21,278,  leaving 
a  balance  of  $1227.75.  To  meet  this  amount  the  Treasurer  has 
in  hand  $900,  leaving  a  balance  due     and  unprovided  for     of 

$32775- 

The  subjoined  paper  will  also  show  a  part  of  the  transac- 
tions of  this  congregational  meeting : 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  Annual  Report  of 
Daniel  Murphy,  Treasurer  of  the  Seventh  United  Presbyterian 
Congregation  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  said  congregation,  which  report  was  presented 
at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  congregation,  January  i,  1872,  and 
was,  on  motion  of  Robert  McBride,  adopted. 

"In  addition  the  Treasurer  begs  leave  to  report  for  the  in- 
formation of  the  congregation  the  following: 

"The  congregation  was  indebted  to  the  pastor.  Rev.  James 
Price,  for  unpaid  salary  on  the  31st  of  December,  1868,  the  sum 
of  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars,  and  the  Trustees  sold 
to  him  in  the  month  of  March  following  the  lot  of  ground  adjoin- 
ing the  Church  building,  40  feet  front  on  Orthodox  street,  by  173 


108  SEVENTH    UMTEn    PRESBYTKRIAX    CIIIRCH.  1872 

feet  deep,  for  the  sum  of  $1333.33.  ui)on  condition  of  Mr.  Price 
paying  in  cash  the  difference  between  the  price  of  the  ground 
and  the  balance  due  him,  the  amount  being  $458.33,  which  pay- 
ment appears  on  the  Treasurer's  books  on  March  ist,  1869;  said 
payment  balancing  the  accounts  between  the  pastor  and  the  con- 
gregation to  the  first  day  of  January  of  that  year.  Since  which 
time  the  congregation  have  fallen  behind  in  the  payment  of  pas- 
tor's salary,  as  follows,  viz.:  In  the  year  i8>(nj,  $174.65;  in  the 
year  1870,  $59.84;  making  at  this  date  due  and  uni)aid  the  pastor 
$234.49. 

"I  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  extract  from  my  report, 
Frankford,  February  3d,  1872.  DANIEL  MURPHY, 

ANNA  R.  PRICE,  Treasurer. 

M.  M.  COOPER,  Witnesses. 

"The  above  extract,  as  a  part  of  the  Treasurer's  report,  was 
adopted  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  congregation  as  above,  on 
January  .1,   1872.  ALEXANDER  GALBRAITH, 

Chairman. 

It  was  at  this  time  the  custom  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia to  visit  the  congregations  under  its  care  at  certain  intervals 
by  a  Committee  regularly  appointed.  The  Committee  to  visit 
the  Frankford  Church  consisted  of  Revs.  Alexander  Calhoun,  of 
the  Fifth  Church  ;  W.  C.  Jackson,  of  the  Fourth,  and  Elder  Thom- 
as Stinson.  The  custom  was  to  examine  the  pastor,  Session  and 
Board  of  Trustees.  The  Committee  kindly  urged  the  congrega- 
tion to  go  forward  with  the  Lord's  work,  and  Elder  Stinson  ad- 
vised the  finishing  of  the  front  part  of  the  church ;  promising 
at  the  opening  to  bring  men  from  the  city  who  would  pay  half  the 
cost. 

Mr.  James  Pollock  having  undertaken  the  work  of  getting 
up  a  concert  to  assist  in  paying  the  debt  on  the  church  building 
as  far  as  finished,  began  the  business  in  time.  On  February  15, 
more  than  a  month  ahead,  he  reported  that  he  had  got  the  tickets 
printed  and  had  already  disposed  of  $30  worth.  This  was  finan- 
cially one  of  the  most  successful  cntertainnuiUs  ever  held  in  con- 
nection with  the  congregation,  and  its  success  was  largely  due  to 
the  liberality  and  untiring  efforts  of  Mr.  Pollock.  Its  description 
will  be  found  in  the  Souvenir;  the  proceeds  were  $301.50. 

In  this  connection  the  following  extracts  from  the  writer's 
journal  were  intensely  interesting  to  us  at  the  time  they  were 
written:  "March  25th,  1872 — Paid  Thomas  B.  Taylor,  contractor, 
$1127.75  in  full. to  do  which  got  from  Mr.  Pollock  $100,  and 
from  Mrs.   Cooper  $100.50  concert  money."'     "June   17th.    1872, 


187'J  OPENING    CHURCH    TO    ENTERING    OF    PARSONAGE.  109 

paid  Attorney  \V.  J.  AIcElroy,  lien  fee,  $25.  This  put  ground 
and  Church  building,  as  far  as  finished,  entirely  out  of  debt,  with 
nearly  $75  in  my   (the  pastor's)   hands." 

In  the  work  of  procuring  ground  and  a  suitable  church 
building  for  the  Frankford  United  Presbyterian  Congregation, 
the  pastor,  James  Price,  collected  by  travel  and  personal  visits 
to  the  homes  of  thousands  of  people  of  our  denomination  in  many 
States,  by  special  appeals  to  personal  friends,  and  by  plans  which 
he  set  on  foot  from  March  17th,  1863,  to  June  24,  1873,  $13,- 
647.65.  Not  one  cent  in  money  of  this  amount  had  been  received 
from  the  Board  of  Church  Extension ;  they  had,  however,  given 
us  what  they  termed  territory ;  that  is  the  privilege  of  visiting  the 
churches  in  certain  Presbyteries  and  soliciting  aid  if  we  could  get 
any.  Early  in  this  year  we  received  the  following  letter  from 
Rev.  A.  G.  Wallace,  Secretary  of  our  Board  of  Church  Extension : 

"New  Brighton,  Pa.,  Feb.  8,  1872. 
Dear  Bro.  Price  : 

"I  enclose  to  you  circular  to  Trustees  and  blank  mortgage 
according  to  action  of  last  Assembly.  I  find  you  were  Feb.  2"], 
1863,  granted  authority  to  collect  funds  in  Philadelphia,  Delaware, 
Allegheny,  Muskingum,  First  Ohio,  Monongahela,  Chartiers, 
Frankfort  and  Wheeling  Presbyteries ;  and  that  you  reported 
April  22d,  1864,  the  collection  of  $1672.59,  and  obtained  authority 
to  continue  collecting.  Nothing  in  my  possession  shows  how 
much  you  have  received  from  the  Church  at  large  in  aid  of  your 
enterprise.  They  will  therefore  fill  out  the  mortgage  according 
to  their  own  knowledge,  and  after  being  recorded  they  will  for- 
ward to  me.  If  there  is  a  mortgage  on  the  property  note  it  on 
the  back.  As  your  house  it  not  completed,  the  Board  will  not 
make  this  mortgage  any  barrier  to  future  negotiations  for  money 
which  may  be  found  necessary.  The  Board  is  now  sufifering  from 
neglect  of  these  things,  and  we  must  now  remedy  it  as  fax  as 
possible.  Yours  truly, 

"a'  G.  WALLACE." 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Frankford  Church  declined  to 
comply  with  this  request,  feeling  that  compliance  might  embar- 
rass us  in  finishing  our  building,  and  we  felt  we  were  not  under 
obligation  to  give  a  mortgage  for  money  we  had  never  received 
from  the  Board ;  but  which  the  pastor  had  in  many  cases  received 
from  personal  friends,  some  of  them  outside  of  our  denomination, 
and  from  most  laborious,  self-denying  and  tactful  efforts. 

Now  that  the  congregation  had  suitable  quarters  in  which 
they  could  comfortably  meet  and  work  for  the  Master,  and  in  the 


no  SEVENTH    UMTKl)    PRKSItVTEKIAN    CHURCH.  1872 

year  when  they  began  to  be  free  from  debt,  and  in  the  midsum- 
mer of  a  year  when  they  saw  every  bill  coimected  with  ground  and 
new  church  as  far  as  finished  paid,  they  felt  that  they  dare  not 
neglect  spiritual  work.  The  ])astor  endeavored  to  fill  the  pulpit 
in  a  regular,  loving  and  faithful  mahner;  often  having  a  preaching 
service  in  the  afternoon  for  the  Sabbath  School  when  its  metrj- 
bers  largely  remained  for  the  exercises,  and  on  such  ami  other 
occasions  he  held  three  public  services,  preaching  himself  morn- 
ing, afternoon  and  evening.  He  took  no  vacation,  and  was  not 
absent  from  his  pulpit  a  single  Sabbath  during  the  year. 

A  special  course  of  sermons  on  women's  sphere  and  work 
in  the  church  was  delivered  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  which 
drew  full  audiences,  many  of  those  present  being  from  other 
churches  in  Frankford. 

Wednesday  evening  meetings  for  prayer  were  held  the 
first  half  of  the  year  in  the  houses  of  the  members,  and  in  the 
latter  part  meetings  were  held  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  new 
building,  when  the  pastor  gave  a  short  exposition  of  the  Sabbath 
School  lesson ;  inviting  others  to  speak  and  lead  in  prayer.  On 
Wednesday  evening.  February  2ist,  the  prayer  meeting  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  James  T.  Ross,  in  Bridesburg,  when  nearly 
twenty  strangers  were  present;  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  Mrs. 
Ross  served  refreshments.  At  the  meeting  in  John  J.  Stewart's 
house,  March  20th,  between  thirty  and  forty  persons  were  present. 
On  Sabbath  afternoon,  November  24,  we  had  a  union  prayer 
meeting  in  our  lecture  room,  people  from  the  Frankford  churches 
attending. 

At  the  March  Sacrament  three  ladies  belonging  to  Dr.  Mur- 
phy's Presbyterian  Church,  Frankford,  Mrs.  Ramsey,  Mrs.  Wat- 
son and  a  Miss  Hoagland,  who  sympathized  with  us  and  occa- 
sionally attended  our  services,  having  requested  cards  of  admis- 
sion to  our  table,  received  them  and  communed. 

Among  the  six  marriage  ceremonies  of  this  year  was  that 
of  Mr.  Thomas  R.  Cheyney  and  Miss  Mary  Jane  McBride.  The 
marriage  ceremony  was  performed  in  the  new  church,  and  was 
the  first  and  only  public  wedding  in  the  new  lecture  room  during 
the  writer's  pastorate  of  the  congregation.  The  ceremony  was 
before  a  large  audience  and  it  is  believed  there  were  the  usual 
bridesmaids,  flower  girls,  etc. 


CHARPTER  VIII. 

FROM   PASTOR'S  ENTERING  HIS  OWN    HOUSE    TO 
HIS  RESIGNATION  — 1872-1873. 

The  pastor  this  year  made  a  change  in  his  domestic  arrange- 
ments, and  although  of  short  duration  it  was  for  the  time  exceed- 
ingly happy.  On  April  25th  he  rented  from  Thomas  B.  Taylor 
a  domicile  owned  by  him,  No.  4439.  Paul  street,  adjoining  the 
Baptist  Church.  Quite  a  number  of  the  congregation  held  two 
surprise  parties  this  year,  going  unexpectedly  to  the  homes  of  two 
of  the  families.  On  January  23,  some  forty-two  persons  sur- 
prised William  Martin  and  his  good  wife,  and  besides  bringing 
materials  for  an  elegant  supper,  they  left  behind  them  substan- 
tial gifts  to  show  how  they  loved  and  appreciated  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Martin.  The  other  surprise  was  on  August  30th,  at  the  house  of 
Miss  Hoagland  and  was  arranged  by  Lizzie  Schwartz,  Josephine 
Foulkrod  and  others. 

The  report  of  the  congregation  to  the  General  Assembly 
April  ist,  for  the  past  year,  was  as  follows:  Communicants,'  95; 
increase,  by  profession,  15;  by  certificate,  9;  decrease,  21  ;  infant 
baptisms,  7 ;  adult,  2.  Officers  and  teachers  in  Sabbath  Schools, 
15;  scholars,  132;  contributions  of  schools,  $88;  contributions  to 
Boards,  $23  ;  salary  of  congregation  to  pastor,  $808 ;  salary  by  As- 
sembly, $300;  raised  for  congregational  expenses,  $633;  total 
contributions,  $1464;  average  per  member,  $15.41. 

This  report  was  in  some  respects  the  most  encouraging  the 
congregation  had  ever  presented.  The  number  of  communicants 
was  95,  the  largest  during  Mr.  Price's  pastorate,  and  it  is  believed 
the  increase  for  the  year  in  membership  was  never  before  ex- 
ceeded in  any  one  year ;  still  this  was  nearly  equalled  by  the  de- 
crease. The  salary  of  the  pastor  was  likely  larger  this  year  than 
in  any  previous  one ;  and  it  will  be  observed  that  the  General 
Assembly  had  largely  at  this  time  increased  its  appropriation  to 
the  congregation. 


112  SEVENTH    UNITKI)    I'RKSHYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1872 

The  way  of  sustaining^  the  Gospel  or  supporting  the  pastor 
heretofore  was  by  monthly  and  quarterly  subscriptions  received 
through  collectors  ;  but  the  plan  proved  both  laborious  and  defec- 
tive, and  toward  the  close  of  this  year  it  was  resolved  to  try  a 
simpler,  more  systematic  and  Scriptural  method.  Hence  on  Mon- 
day evening,  December  30th,  1872,  a  congregational  meeting  was 
held  to  consider  and  act  upon  this  matter.  The  pastor,  after  con- 
sultation with  the  officers  and  some  leading  members  of  the  con- 
gregation, had  previously  prepared  a  paper  which  explained  the 
new  method,  and  which  was  made  ready  for  adoption.  The  fol- 
lowing minute  of  the  congregational  meeting  and  the  paper 
adopted,  copies  of  which  are  in  the  Souvenir,  will  explain  them- 
selves : 

"Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Frankford,  Decem- 
ber 30,  1872,  7.30  P.  M. — According  to  notice  from  the  pulpit  on 
the  previous  Sabbath  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held  at 
the  above  place  immediately  after  public  worship.  On  motion  of 
James  Pollock,  James  T.  Ross  was  called  to  the  chair,  who  briefly 
stated  the  object  of  the  meeting  to  be  the  consideration  of  the 
system  of  weekly  giving  to  support  the  Church.  A  paper  illustrat- 
ing the  principles  of  the  plan  in  use  in  the  Frankford  Baptist 
Church  having  been  read  by  the  pastor,  James  Price,  it  was.  on 
motion  of  Messrs.  Gray  and  Pollock,  adopted  unanimously,  and 
is  as  follows : 

RESOLUTIONS 

Adopted  by 

THE  FRANKFORD  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

Whereas,  Money  is  required  to  sustain  the  Church,  to  pay  the 
pastor's  salary,  the  sexton,  the  bills  for  fuel,  lights,  repairs  and 
other  expenses  pertaining  to  the  House  of  Worshij).  and 

Whereas,  Every  member  who  shares  in  the  inestimable  ad- 
vantages of  the  Church  and  of  the  Gospel  is  under  as  great  an  ob- 
ligation  to  contribute  his  or  her  share — proportioned  according  to 
ability — towards  defraying  said  expenses,  as  to  pay  for  any  other 
comforts  or  blessings  of  life,  and 

Whereas,  The  apostolic  injunction  to  the  Church  of  Corinth 
(I  Cor.  xvi,  2:  "Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week,  let  every  one  of 
you  lay  by  him  in  store,  as  God  hath  prospered  him,")  has  been 
found  by  experience  to  be  the  most  fair,  simple,  practical  method, 
raising  the  largest  sums  in  a  manner  easy  for  all  and  oppressive 
to  none,  cultivating  habits  of  system  and  economy,  and  awaken- 
ing a  deeper  interest  in  the  Church  in  all  who  faithfully  practice 
it ;  therefore : 

Resolved.  1st.  That  we.  as  a  Church.  adoj)t  it  and  consider  it 
the  duty  and  privilege  of  every  member  to  give  something  regu- 
larly in  this  way. 


1872  ENTERING   PARSONAGE   TO    PASTOR's    RESIGNATION.      113 

Resolved,  2d,  That  as  "the  Lord  loveth  a  cheerful  giver,"  the 
amount  to  be  given  should  be  left  to  the  conscience  of  each  one,  to 
be  determined  by  his  knowledge  of  his  own  resources,  his  other 
obligations  and  his  love  for  the  Church  and  cause  of  Christ. 

Resolved,  3d,  That  the  meet  the  current  expenses  of  the  con- 
gregation  for  this  year  there  is  needed  the  sum  of  $1600,  or 
$30.77  weekly,  and  that  each  member  be  requested  to  name  the 
average  amount  which  he  or  she  will  endeavor  to  give  weekly  to- 
ward raising  that  sum,  it  being  understood  that  the  sum  thus 
pledged  is  to  be  paid  only  so  long  as  Providence  may  give  the 
ability ;  the  amount  named  to  be  increased  or  diminished  as  God 
may  prosper,  or  the  reverse. 

Resolved,  4th,  That  as  system  and  the  convenience  of  the 
contributors  are  the  main  objects  of  this  plan,  that  if  any  find  it 
decidedly  inconvenient  to  contribute  weekly,  monthly  or  quar- 
terly contributions  will  be  accepted,  but  as  uniformity  is  very  im- 
portant, it  is  hoped  that  none  will  adopt  this  course  unless  com- 
pelled by  necessity. 

Resolved,  5th,  That,  when  desired,,  the  weekly  contributions 
shall  be  credited  toward  the  rent  of  pews  or  seats. 

Resolved,  6th,  That  to  facilitate  the  collections,  we  will  adopt 
the  following 

PLAN. 

1.  Subscription  cards  will  be  furnished  to  each  member  of 
the  Church  and  to  any  others  who  may  desire  to  assist  in  sus- 
taining it ;  on  which  each  will  mark  the  amount  to  be  given 
weekly  with  the  name  signed,  and  return  it  as  early  as  possible, 
either  by  putting  it  in  the  collection  box  on  Sabbath  or  giving  it 
to  the  Treasurer. 

2.  Each  subscriber  shall  be  furnished  with  fifty-two  en 
velopes  bearing  a  particular  number,  by  which  number  the  person 
shall  be  known  on  the  Treasurer's  book. 

3.  Each   one  is  requested  to  seal  up  in  one  of  these  en 
velopes  the  contribution  for  the  week    (the  name  need  not  b< 
put  on  the  envelope,  as  the  number  shows  whose  it  is),  and  drop  it 
in  the  collection  box  each  Sabbath  at  any  time  of  Public  Worship. 

4.  If  Providence  shall,  at  any  time  prevent  the  attendance 
of  any  subscriber,  such  subscriber  is  expected  to  send  the  contri- 
bution for  that  day,  or  bring  it  when  next  attending,  so  that  the 
whole  number  of  fifty-two  envelopes  may  be  returned  to  the 
Church. 

5.  Any  person  who  can  only  pay  once  a  month  or  quarter 
may  still  sign  the  card  for  so  much  a  week,  get  their  envelopes, 
and  at  the  beginning  or  end  of  the  month  or  quarter  put  the  whole 
contribution  in  an  envelope,  drop  it  in  the  box  and  the  person  shall 
be  credited  for  the  full  time. 

6.  There  shall  be  a  Committee  of  the  Finances  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  distribute  the  cards,  get  subscribers,  furnish  them 
with  envelopes,  endeavor  to  keep  the  system  in  healthy  working 


114  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1872 

order,  and  make  it  as  successful  as  possible,  and  which  shall  re- 
port to  the  Trustees  and  Coni^-egation  as  often  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary. 

It  is  earnestly  hoped  that  all  will  cordially  unite  in  carrying 
out  a  measure  so  important  to  our  progress  and  prosperity. 

On  motion  of  James  Pollock,  a  Committee  was  appointed  to 
prepare  the  way  for  carrying  out  this  plan  in  the  congregation  by 
procuring  cards,  envelopes,  book  and  whatever  is  necessary,  the 
Committee  to  consist  of  James  Pollock,  J.  J.  Stewart,  the  Chair- 
man of  this  meeting  and  the  pastor.  The  pastor  presented  a 
])aper  showing  how  Providence  had  favored  the  proposal  to  finish 
the  Church  edifice  and  instructing  the  Building  Committee  to  go 
on  trusting  to  God  for  means.  After  some  discussion  it  was  laid 
on  the  table  until  the  annual  meeting  on  Wednesday  next,  at 
which-  time  it  was  adopted  and  the  Trustees  directed  to  devise 
means   for  going  forward. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1873  the  pastor  published  a  re- 
port for  the  year  preceding  touching  work  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  the  congregation,  and  since  it  gives  a  sort  of  pictorial 
exhibit  of  what  we  did  for  a  year  it  ought  to  be  presented  here. 
It  is  as  follows : 

REPORT  OF  THE  PASTOR  OF  THE 

FRANKFORD     UNITED      PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 

For  the  Year  1872. 

RECORD  OF  MEISIBERSHIP. 

Families. 

The  total  number  of  families  at  present  is  eighty ;  fifty-five 
of  these  are  connected  with  the  Church  by  membership,  the  re- 
maining twenty-five  belong  to  the  congregation  by  attendance, 
contributions,  etc. 

Communicants. 

Fifteen  persons  were  added  to  the  Church  during  the  year 
by  profession,  and  six  by  certificate  ;  nine,  at  their  own  request, 
were  dismissed  to  other  congregations  ;  two  removed  more  than 
a  year  ago  without  asking  a  certificate ;  the  names  of  two  others 
were  dropped  from  the  roll,  and  two  died,  leaving  now  on  the  roll 
ninety-three. 

Baptisms. 

Seven  infants  and  one  adult  were  received  into  the  Church 
by  baptism. 

Sabbath   Schools  and   Bible   Classes. 

The  Schools  are  divided  into  three  departments.  Infant,  Ju- 
nior and  Senior.    The  Junior  and  Senior  number  about  fifty  mem- 


1872  ENTERING   parsonage:   TO    PASTOr'S    RESIGNATION,         115 

bers  each,  and  the  Infant  department  sixty.  Early  in  the 
summer  the  pastor  organized  a  Young  People's  Bible 
Class  for  both  sexes,  which  he  continues  to  teach  him- 
self at  the  usual  Sabbath  School  hour.  About  twenty  are  on 
the  list.  The  whole  number  on  the  rolls  of  the  Schools  is  upward 
of  two  hundred.  About  fifty  new  scholars  were  received  during 
the  year  and  nearly  as  many  dismissed.  A  number  of  premiums 
were  given  during  the  year  for  bringing  new  scholars  and  attend- 
ance. The  pastor,  the  Schools  and  a  generous  friend,  once  a 
teacher,  met  the  expense.  Fifteen  officers  and  teachers  are  con- 
nected with  the  Schools,  who  hold  monthly  meetings  for  prayer 
and  quarterly  meetings  for  business.  Upwards  of  four  hundred 
religious  papers,  not  including  cards  and  tracts,  have  been  dis- 
tributed each  month.  A  library,  which  will  amount  to  upward  of 
five  hundred  volumes,  is  being  procured  and  arranged  in  three 
parts  for  teachers,  Bible  classes  and  the  Junior  School.  An  enter- 
tainment at  the  first  of  the  year  was  held  and  an  excursion  made 
to  the  woods,  which  on  an  average,  about  paid  their  own  ex- 
penses. For  the  library  and  other  purposes  there  was  collected 
during  the  year  about  $50. 

OFFICERS,  MEETINGS,  ETC. 
Session. 

The  session  consists  of  three  members  beside  the  pastor,  who 
is  moderator,  Daniel  Murphy,  and  by  appointment  of  Presbytery, 
George  B.  Skilton  and  James  AlcCartney.  It  sat  nine  different 
evenings  during  the  year.  None  of  the  members  were  before  it 
on  flagrant  crimes,  although  the  case  of  some  who  had  neglected 
their  duties  was  considered  and  acted  on. 

Trustees. 

The  Board  of  Trustees,  according  to  the  charter,  is  composed 
of  six  members ;  it  has  been  in  the  habit  of  holding  monthly  meet- 
ings at  the  house  of  D.  Murphy,  who  is  now  an  invalid.  The 
Board  this  day  (January  ist,  1873)  consists  of  James  Pollock, 
William  Martin,  Daniel  Murphy,  James  T.  Ross,  Charles  McClean 
and  John  Stewart.  The  term  of  office  of  the  two  first  expires 
January  i,  1876;  that  of  the  two  next  January  i,  1875,  and  that 
of  the  last  two  January  i,  1874.  Daniel  Murphy  was  treasurer  of 
the  congregation,  an  office  which  he  had  held  for  some  twelve 
years  with  us. 

Wednesday  Evening  Lecture. 

These  meetings  have  been  held  regularly  during  the  early 
months  in  houses  but  since  the  beginning  of  summer  in  the 
small  lecture  room  of  the  church.  About  one-sixth  of  the  mem- 
bers have  been  in  the  habit  of  attending. 

Singing  Class. 

A  singing  class  was  organized  during  the  fall  under  the  di- 
rection of  Mr.  Alexander  Murray,  assisted  by  William  Martin. 


116  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1872 

The  class  has  numbered  upwards  of  twenty,  although  the  attend- 
ance has  been  smaller,  and  still  meets  on  Fridav  evenings.  Too 
much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  these  two  young  men,  who,  for 
}ears,  have  served  the  congregation  without  charge,  and  who, 
amid  many  discouragements,  have  tried  and  retried  to  improve 
.our  congregational  music. 

'  Ij  CONTRIBUTIONS. 

♦^     Taken  from  the  annual  reports  and  books  of  the  various 
Treasurers. 

Current  Expenses  of  the  Congregation. 

Received  in  monthly  and  quarterly  subscriptions,  $607.95 ; 
box  collection  on  Sabbaths,  $150.83;  total,  (with  balance  in  Trea- 
sury January  i.  1872,  $33.67)  $792.45  all  of  which  was  paid  out 
to  pastor,  sexton,  for  coal,  gas  and  other  expenses,  leaving  noth- 
ing in  the  treasury. 

Ladies'  Mite  Society. 

This  society  was  revived  during  the  summer.  Amount  re- 
ceived from  two  church  collections,  proceeds  of  concert  and 
monthly  contributions,  about  $125.  of  which  amount  there  was 
paid  to  the  pastor  $81.25  ;  with  the  balance  the  sexton's  salary  was 
paid,  and  other  things  purchased  which  w^cre  required  for  the 
church. 

Benevolent  Purposes. 

The  annual  collection  for  the  Boards  of  the  church,  tScc, 
was  taken  up  in  March  (in  connection  with  the  Spring  Commun- 
ion), amounting  to  $34.70,  which  was  distributed  as  follows: 
Presbytery  Fund,  $9.70 ;  Newburgh  Seminary,  $2 ;  Board  of  Ed- 
ucation, $2;  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  $10;  Board  of  Home 
Missions,  $11.  A  collection  was  also  taken  up  to  meet  $5  laid 
on  each  congregation  for  Psalters  for  use  of  Pliiladclphia  Minis- 
terial Union.  The  amount  of  that  collection  was  $3.20,  which 
was  made  $5  by  the  pastor  and  paid  over,  also  $1  received  for 
Minutes  of  Synod  of  New  York. 

Building  Fund  of  the  Congregation. 

There  was  received  from  Miss  Agnes  Tenant's  estate 
$470.98.  The  pastor  collected  $111.64.  Proceeds  of  concert, 
$301.50;  interest  on  deposits,  $5.30.  Total  received  $889.42, 
which,  with  the  l)alance  on  hand,  enabled  the  Treasurer,  D.  Mur- 
phy, to  pay  Thomas  1'.  Taylor  and  others  their  bills  amounting 
to  $1266.19,  which  leaves  the  entire  church  property  clear  of 
debt,  as  far  as  the  building  has  been  finished.  The  cost  of  the 
property  is  as  follows :  Grounds,  $3800;  building  as  far  as  finish- 
ed, $18,705.75.  Total  cost  of  grounds  and  building,  $22,505.75. 
Estimating  the  increase  in  the  value  of  the  ground  and  economy 
in  building,  the  actual  value  of  the  church  property  must  be  up- 
wards of  $30,000.  Nothing  has  been  done  during  the  year  toward 
the  actual  finishing  of  the  front  part  of  tlie  house  of  worship,  but 


1872         ENTERING   PARSONAGE  TO   PASTOr's    RESIGNATION.         117 

a  kind  Providence  has  been  undoubtedly  working  for  us  and 
plainly  urging  us  to  go  on  and  trust  Him  who  has  never  failed 
us  in  the  past,  and  who,  during  upwards  of  ten  years  of  work, 
has  not  for  once  permitted  the  treasury  to  be  empty.  One  large- 
hearted  Christian  man,  a  member  of  one  of  our  churches  in  the 
city,  who  has  often  helped  us  before,  makes  the  liberal  and  mag- 
nificent offer  that  when  the  main  audience  room  is  finished  he  will 
bring  as  many  persons  to  the  opening  as  will  pay  half  the  ex- 
pense. A  citizen  of  Frankford,  not  connected  with  the  church, 
offers  to  see  the  floor  laid  if  the  lumber  is  furnished.  Other 
wealthy  men  of  the  place  have  unsolicited  promised  donations. 
During  the  middle  and  close  of  the  year  a  small  amount  of  money 
has  been  put  into  the  pastor's  hands  for  the  same  purpose ;  so 
that  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  we  can  resist  going  forward  at  once. 

PASTORAL  WORK. 

Sermons  and  Lectures. 
The  regular  times  for  public  worship  have  been  at  10.30  A. 
M,  and  3.30  P.  M.,  also  on  the  evening  of  the  first  Sabbath  of 
each  month  at  7.30  P.  M.  At  3  P.  M.  on  the  latter  day  a  short 
discourse  is  preached  to  parents  and  young  persons.  The  pastor 
has  preached  one  hundred  and  four  sermons  during  the  year  in  his 
own  pulpit,  besides  many  others  he  preached  elsewhere.  He  has 
not  been  absent  from  public  worship  in  the  congregation  for  a  sin- 
gle Sabbath,  or  part  of  one  during  the  year.  After  careful  reading 
and  preparation  three  discourses  were  preached  on  Woman's 
Sphere  and  Work  in  and  out  of  the  Church,  which  were  well  re- 
ceived by  the  people  of  Frankford.  The  pastor  has  been  earnestly 
solicited  to  publish  these,  both  by  ministers  and  others,  which 
he  will  endeavor  to  do ;  want  of  time  and  the  expense  being  the 
only  reasons  for  delay.  Three  lectures  were  also  delivered  on  the 
present  condition  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  which  have  been  published  in  the  Evangelical  Re- 
pository. 

Wednesday  Evening  Lecture. 

The  pastor  was  only  absent  as  far  as  his  diary  shows  one 
evening  (that  of  the  Ter  Centenary  of  Presbyterianism)  during 
the  year,  and  therefore  delivered  fifty-one  lectures  on  the  Sabbath 
School  Lesson. 

Pastoral  Visitation. 

No  regular  record  has  been  kept  of  these  visits,  but  the  aim 
has  been  to  visit  all  the  families  and  individuals  connected  with 
the  congregation  at  least  once  a  year,  and  in  case  of  sickness  or 
negligence  far  oftener.  It  is  believed  that  these  visits  will  more 
than  average  three  each  day,  making  over  one  thousand  in  the 
year,  which  were  performed,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  on  foot 
at  nearly  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night  in  the  midst  of  burning 
suns  and  sweepins:  storms  from  Bridesburg  to  Crescentville,  and 
from  Holmesburer  to  Harrowsfate. 


118  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1872 

Marriages. 
The  pastor  has  officiated  in  uniting  si.\  couples  in  marriage 
during  the  year,  besides  assisting  in  other  cases,  and  the  fees, 
according  to  agreement,  have  been  paid  over  to  his  wife. 

Funerals. 
No  record  of  these  has  been  kept,  but  the  pastor  has  attended 
numerous  funerals  officially  in  different  families  in  the  vicinity  not 
connected  with  any  churcli.  and  in  other  cases  the  families  were 
connected  with  other  churches  than  his  own. 

WHAT  THE  PASTOR  AND  HIS  WIFE  HAVE  RECEIVED. 

Salary. 

The  pastor  has  received  from  the  General  Assembly  of  our 
church  to  help  in  sustaining  the  congregation  for  this  year  $300. 
He  has  also  received  from  the  treasurer  of  the  congregation 
$722.15.  Total  salary  received  $1022.15.  Donations  in  money 
and  articles  for  the  house  (not  including  what  was  given  for  fr.r- 
nishing),  about  $100. 

Furnishing  Pastor's  House. 

A  few  ladies  undertook  this  work,  under  the  leadership  of  a 
persevering  one  of  their  number.  They  received  in  money  (in 
addition  to  what  was  afterward  raised  by  the  Mite  Society)  $71.20 
from  friends  in  the  congregation  and  out  of  it,  and  such  an  amount 
of  tin,  china  and  woodenware,  and  other  articles  of  housekeeping 
as  cannot  all  be  enumerated.  Two  families  furnished  an  entire 
chamber,  excepting  the  carpet,  besides  giving  many  other  arti- 
cles. Young  men  and  women  did  their  part,  even  down  to  the 
children  in  the  Sabbath  School.  One  boy  donated  a  barrel  of 
wood  for  the  cellar,  and  the  day  the  pastor's  wife  returned  from 
a  visit  to  friends  to  enter  the  new  house,  she  found  everything  in 
order  and  a  sumj^tuous  dinner  on  the  table.  Persons  outside  the 
congregation  in  their  kindness  gave  money,  household  articles, 
and  worked  with  their  own  hands  in  helping  to  furnish  the  house. 

Donations. 

From  the  day  the  pastor  and  his  wife  entered  their  house,  n(^t 
a  week,  hardly  a  day,  has  passed  without  God  sending  through 
kmd  friends  mostly  in  the  congregation  but  often  out  of  it,  some- 
thing. It  would  be  almost  impossible  to  tell  where  to  begin  to 
give  any  account  of  these  gifts,  nor  can  we  mention  the  names  of 
the  donors;  and,  strange  to  say,  all  the  articles  brought  were  just 
such  as  are  needed.  One  family  insisted  on  sending  in  a  nice 
criokcd  dinner  on  a  certain  day  each  week  :  another,  beside  other 
things,  kept  us  in  eggs  weekly;  another  brought  us  from  their 
.store  such  a  variety  of  grocery  articles  that  we  might  have  set  up 
a  small  shop. 

.'\  large  hearted  newspaper  man.  who  befriends  all  the 
churches  of  this  jilace,  refused  to  charge  for  the  daily  and  weekly 


.MUS.     .\.NX.\     r«OHKU'r>5<  ).N'     I'UTf'F: 


1872  ENTERING    PARSONAGE   TO    PASTOR's    RESIGNATION.         119 

paper  he  had  left  at  our  door  month  after  month.  The  physician, 
who  attended  daily  in  a  protracted  sickness,  when  asked,  said  he 
had  no  bill  against  us.  An  accomplished  young  lady  of  another 
church  undertook  to  supply  us  with  fruits  and  flowers  in  the  sea- 
son. Elegant  baskets  of  the  one  and  rare  boquets  of  the  other 
graced  our  table.  Sometimes  we  had  visits  in  which  ladies  and 
gentlemen  would  intentionally  drop  five  dollar  bills  and  leave  nice 
wrappers  and  tempting  cakes,  etc.  Sometimes  on  going  out  in 
the  morning  we  would  find  a  pair  of  chickens  hanging  on  the 
pump-handle  and  could  not  tell  how  they  came  there.  One  lady 
brought  in  a  fine  large  roast  of  beef,  which,  after  going  through 
different  kinds  of  preparation  from  time  to  time,  lasted  more  than 
two  weeks.  But  we  find  it  impossible  to  enumerate,  so  we  must 
content  ourselves  by  thanking  all  our  kind  friends  together. 

Retracing  the  year  and  glancing  over  our  imperfect  report, 
we  cannot  but  feel  that  in  the  midst  of  trials,  efforts,  labors  and 
the  day  of  small  things  in  our  congregation,  God  has  shown  us 
special  favor.  If  our  success  has  not  been  remarkable,  the  Mas- 
ter has  at  least  given  us  sufficient  evidence  that  the  work  has  had 
his  approbation  and  at  the  time  to  favor  this  His  Zion  is  near  at 
hand.  Let  us  give  Him  the  praise  and  persevere  in  His  work  for 
the  year  in  which  we  have  entered. 
Frankford,  Philadelphia,  January  ist,  1873. 

It  may  be  stated  here  that  the  $500  bequest  of  Miss  Agnes 
Tenant,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Frankford,  to  the  Seventh 
United  Presbyterian  Church  was  received  through  Attorney  John 
Shallcross  on  December  29,  1871,  less  collateral  inheritance  tax, 
the  net  amount  being  $470.98.  The  check  was  deposited  in  the 
Second  National  Bank,  and  the  cash  received  about  January  22d, 
1872,  and  placed  in  the  Building  Fund. 

While  preparing  for  the  annual  festival  of  the  Sabbath  School 
and  congregational  meeting  in  the  evening  of  January  i,  1873, 
we  were  made  sad  by  being  called  to  Cedar  Grove  to  attend  the 
funeral  of  Isabella  Moody,  one  of  the  young  girls  of  our  congre- 
gation, at  2  o'clock,  P.  M.  Consumption,  which  seemed  to  lay  a 
claim  to  every  member  of  the  family,  had  again  entered  the  home. 

No  further  work  was  done  this  year  in  finishing  the  building, 
and  about  the  only  money  added  to  the  building  fund  was  that 
arising  from  two  concerts.  About  this  time  a  band  of  colored  art- 
ists known  as  the  Carolina  Singers,  were  giving  musical  enter- 
tainments in  various  of  the  Northern  States.  As  they  were  very 
popular  we  determined  to  secure  them  in  the  interests  of  our  new 
building.  On  January  23d  the  writer  engaged  this  band  at  a  cost 
of  $25  together  with  an  additional  $3  for  the  person  presiding  at 
the  piano,  and  the  entertainment  was  fixed  for  Feliruary  6th.    The 


120  SEVENTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  1873 

hand-bill  describes  these  singers  as  a  troupe,  consisting  of  two 
males  and  five  females ;  all  of  whom  were  formerly  slaves.  The 
admission  was  fi.xed  at  35  cents,  and  reserved  seats  50  cents.  The 
tickets  were  for  sale  at  Shcard's  Book  Store;  Charles  M.  Cooper's 
dry  goods  store,  James  T.  Ross'  grocery  store,  Ash  and  Sal 
mon  streets,  Bridesburg,  and  by  Robert  Moody,  Cedar  Grove. 
The  program,  which  with  the  handbill  will  be  found  in  the  Souve- 
nir, gives  us  the  pieces  which  were  sung,  among  which  were 
"Doubting  Thomas,"  "Gospel  Train,"  "Go  Down,  Moses,"  "Folks 
That  Put  on  Airs,"  "Swing  Low,  Sweet  Chariot,"  "Put  Me  in  My 
Little  Bed,"  "A  Hundred  Years  to  Come,"  etc. 

At  the  first  concert  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  February  6th,  an 
immense  audience  assembled,  about  800  people  were  likely  pres- 
ent, many  persons  being  compelled  to  stand.  Mr.  Rodman,  James 
Pollock's  clerk,  sold  tickets  at  the  door  and  took  in  there  $100, 
Messrs.  Charles  McLean  and  Williarn  Gray  receiving  the  tickets 
at  the  upper  door.  The  journal  declares  that  the  most  noted  peo- 
ple of  Frankford  were  present,  such  as  the  Garseds,  Rowlands, 
Balls,  Fitlers,  etc.  We  determined  to  try  a  repetition  of  this  con- 
cert in  the  same  hall,  with  new  program  on  February  24th,  tickets 
to  all  parts  of  the  house  being  50  cents,  but  only  about  two  hun- 
dred were  present  this  time.  The  clear  proceeds  of  the  two  con- 
certs were  about  $200.  The  writer  on  July  loth,  1873.  after  all 
bills  for  ground  and  new  church  building  were  liquidated,  had  a 
clear  balance  in  his  hands  belonging  to  the  Building  Fund  of 
$302.09,  which  on  that  day  he  paid  to  James  Pollock,  the  treasurer 
of  the  congregation. 

We  endeavored  at  this  time  to  carry  on  church  work  with  the 
usual  regularity,  frequently  having  three  services  on  Sabbath.  At 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  Sabbath  School  Association,  Januar\' 
15,  the  pastor  was  made  President  of  the  Association.  Officers  of 
the  schools  were  chosen  as  follows :  James  T.  Ross,  Superinten- 
dent ;  IVL  M.  Cooper,  Treasurer ;  Mrs.  Anna  R.  Price,  Secretary ; 
William  Martin,  Librarian.  The  following  statistics  of  the  schools 
for  the  year  ending  April  ist  of  this  year  will  not  be  without 
interest : 

The  number  of  scholars  on  the  roll  is  162 ;  the  number  in  reg- 
ular attendance,  140;  the  number  of  male  scholars  over  six  years 
of  age  is  60,  and  of  females,  80.  Number  of  scholars  over  16 
years  of  age,  40.  Scholars  whose  parents  attend  no  church,  65 ; 
scholars  attending  public  worship,  65;  officers  and  teachers,  16; 


!fl^H 

^^^^^^^^^^^HeT   '  wi  ]^^H 

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^,  '^v^)C'!^.')^uy'''*''^flP^'''^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 

^1 

^jfl 

^H^^^^^^^^H 

T^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 

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^^^B^Bgfe^Vr/y;,       . 

ROUKKT    1^.     I.A'riMKH 


1873        ENTERING   PARSONAGE   TO    PASTOr's    RESIGNATION.        121 

scholars  uniting  with  the  church  for  the  year,  5 ;  the  parents  of 
two  of  these  five  attend  no  place  of  worship.  The  offerings  for 
the  year  were :  For  Sabbath  School  home  purposes,  $75 ;  for  be- 
nevolent purposes  outside,  $12. 

The  uniform  lesson,  at  that  time  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 
was  used;  and  the  teachers  were  trained  in  this  on  Wednesday 
evening  by  the  pastor,  who  also  preached  monthly  to  the  schools. 
The  new  version  of  the  Psalms  was  used  and  the  catechisms  were 
taught  in  all  the  classes.  In  the  Sabbath  School  Library  there 
were  four  hundred  volumes ;  and  the  officers  and  teachers  had 
monthly  meetings  for  prayer  and  business.  The  attendance  at 
Sabbath  School  for  the  year  1872  and  the  premiums  given  out  to 
scholars  on  February  23d,  1873,  is  thus  noted :  Walter  and  James 
Graham,  Mary  Latimer,  not  absent  from  school  during  year.  Rob- 
ert L.  Latimer  only  once  absent  on  account  of  his  brother's  sick- 
ness ;  Graham  boys  not  absent  once  from  public  worship  on  Sab- 
bath morning.  Ellen  Taylor  and  Mary  Foulkrod  absent  only  once 
from  school  and  Maggie  Taylor  and  Ellen  Taylor  only  twice.  On 
the  date  above  mentioned  these  good  attenders  received  premiums 
consisting  of  copies  of  the  new  Psalm  books  in  different  sizes  and 
bindings,  and  the  following  received  presents  of  Psalm  books  for 
selling  tickets:  Samuel  Allen  (sold  $20  worth),  Sadie  Shuttle- 
worth,  Margaret  J.  Pollock,  Sallie  McLean,  John  Schwartz,  Elmer 
Taylor,  Agnes  Martin,  Mary  Graham,  James  Arnold. 

On  Sabbath,  January  12th,  it  was  reported  that  in  addition  to 
some  who  gave  monthly  or  quarterly  there  were  forty  contribu- 
tors by  the  new  envelope  plan ;  and  the  Treasurer's  books  showed 
April  4tli  that  the  offerings  for  Gospel  support  for  three  months 
were  $175.93.  The  books  of  James  Pollock,  who  this  year  became 
Treasurer,  showed  that  from  January  ist,  1873,  to  July  i6th,  1873, 
the  pastor  had  been  paid  on  salary  $364.25,  and  on  July  23,  1873, 
Mr.  Pollock,  the  Treasurer,  paid  the  pastor  in  full  $302.25  to  date. 
On  January  22  the  pastor  secured  through  Rev.  John  T. 
Brownlee  an  order  on  our  Board  of  Publication  to  receive  $25 
worth  of  books  from  the  McElroy  estate,  the  object  of  the  bequest 
being  to  furnish  Bibles  and  Psalm  books  to  needy  congregations. 
Armed  with  this  order  we  requested  the  Board  to  furnish  us  with 
50  copies  of  24  and  18  mo.  Psalm  books  bound  in  roan.  The  order 
was  received,  and  we  had  them  lettered  in  gold  on  the  side  with 
the  name  of  the  congregation.  These  books  were  the  new  or 
revised  version  of  the  Psahns ;  they  served  the  congregation  for 


122  SEVENTH   UNITED   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  1873 

many  years,  and  it  is  possible  some  of  them  may  be  in  use  yet. 
This  then  was  the  introduction  of  the  new  Psalms  into  the 
Frankford  congregation ;  and  the  first  use  of  the  book  was  on 
Sabbath  day,  March  i6th,  1873.  The  old  and  unaltered  versions  in 
the  new  book  only  were  prudently  selected  that  day.  The  Journal 
about  that  time  says :  "Hear  of  no  trouble  on  this  account,"  but 
Mr.  Ross  said  on  May  i6th  that  some  complained  of  the  new 
Psalms. 

On  Sabbath,  June  22d,  Mr.  Price  gave  notice  from  the  pulpit 
to  the  congregation  that  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery  he 
would  offer  his  resignation  as  pastor.  Nine-tenths  of  the  con- 
gregation were  surprised  and  distressed  at  this  announcement. 
The  pastor,  meeting  Ellen  McClintock  that  day,  on  asking  her  a 
simple  question  she  could  not  speak,  but  burst  into  tears. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in  the 
Second  Church,  June  i6th,  Mr.  Price  offered  his  resignation, 
which  was  laid  on  the  table,  and  the  clerk  of  Presbytery  was  di- 
rected to  notify  the  Seventh  congregation  to  appear  by  a  com- 
mission at  a  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  Second  Church,  Monday, 
July  7th,  at  II  o'clock  A.  M.,  to  give  reasons  why  the  pastor's  re- 
quest should  not  be  granted.  At  this  latter  meeting  the  resigna- 
tion was  taken  up,  and  one  of  the  Trustees  and  a  member  of  the 
provisional  session  appeared  as  the  congregation's  commissioners. 
The  congregation  sent  up  to  the  Presbytery  a  paper  acquiescing  in 
the  pastor's  request,  and  expressing  interest  in  his  future  welfare 
and  success  in  the  Lord's  work. 

On  motion  of  Messrs.  Jackson  and  Kerr  the  request  of  the 
pastor  was  granted  and  the  pastoral  relationship  between  him 
and  the  Seventh  Congregation,  Philadelphia,  was  dissolved.  In 
this  connection  very  feeling  and  sympathetic  remarks  were  made 
by  the  members  of  the  Presbytery  touching  Mr.  Price  and  his  long, 
self-denying  and  successful  work  in  PVankford.  Rev.  J.  C.  Wil- 
son, pastor  of  the  'I'hird  Church,  was  appointed  to  preach  in  the 
Seventh  Church  on  the  third  Sabbath  of  July  and  declare  the  pul- 
pit vacant. 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  Price  the  Presbytery  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  examine  his  report  and  accoiuits  as  collector  for  the 
Building  Punil  of  the  Seventh  Church,  and  also  to  examine  the 
mode  of  settlement  of  pastor's  salary.  This  Committee,  as  ap- 
pointed by  the  Moderator,  consisted  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Wlison,  George 
B.  Skilton  and  \Vm.  McKnight,  said  Committee  to  report  to  the 


1873         ENTERING   PARSONAGE   TO    PASTOR's    RESIGNATION.  123 

Presbytery  at  its  next  meeting  and  also  to  the  congregation.  On 
motion  the  Presbytery  also  appointed  Revs.  Jackson,  Church  and 
Elder  Skilton  to  prepare  and  publish  a  minute  expressing  the 
feelings  of  the  Presbytery  in  regard  to  their  separation  from  Mr. 
Price. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held  in  the  Second 
Church,  Philadelphia,  October  2^,  the  Committee  reported  a  paper 
touching  Mr.  Price  and  his  work  which  was  adopted  and  was 
spread  on  the  Presbytery's  Minutes,  page  462.  Previous  to  this 
time,  however,  the  Committee  had  published  a  series  of  resolutions 
in  both  the  Frankford  and  Philadelphia  papers,  and  which  are  as 
follows : 

"Inasmuch  as  Presbytery  has  granted  the  request  of  Rev. 
James  Price  and  dissolved  the  relation  existing  between  him  and 
the  Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Frankford,  Philadel- 
phia, and  as  he  is  about  to  remove  from  us,  we  feel  that  it  is  only 
our  duty  to  express  our  feelings  in  regard  to  one  who  has  labored 
so  long  and  pleasantly  with  us,  therefore  : 

Resolved,  ist.  That  we  do  assure  Brother  Price  of  our  appre- 
ciation of  his  faithful,  earnest  and  conscientious  services  as  a 
minister  and  pastor. 

2d,  We  gratefully  recognize  the  fact  that  under  God  he  has 
been  enabled  to  do  much  to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  those 
under  his  care ;  and  also  to  bear  up  under  difficulties  and  embar- 
rassments such  as  he  can  fully  understand,  having  been  engaged 
in  building  a  place  of  worship  in  a  mission  station. 

3d,  Not  only  would  we  remember  the  labors  and  sacrifices  of 
the  brother  while  with  us,  out  we  would  also  express  our  regret 
that  we  lose  in  him  a  worthy  co-laborer,  a  congenial  companion 
and  an  earnest  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

4th,  We  heartily  commend  him,  and  his  estimable  wife  to  the 
people  of  God,  with  whom  their  lots  may  be  cast ;  especially  do 
we  commend  them  to  the  care  of  Him  who  guideth  wisely,  pray- 
ing that  as  in  the  past,  so  in  the  rutiire  he  will  bless  them  and  make 
them  a  blessing. 

The  editor  of  the  Frankford  Herald  wrote  as  follows :  "We 
learn  that  Mr.  Price  will  leave  us  at  a  very  early  day  and  spend 
some  time  in  traveling.  Having  been  personally  acquainted  with 
him  ever  since  he  came  among  us,  we  take  great  pleasure  in 
bearing  testimony  to  the  earnestness  with  which  he  has  always 
labored  to  build  up  the  church  under  his  charge.  Our  best  wishes 
will  go  with  him  to  whatsoever  field  he  may  be  called.  Mr.  Price 
will  preach  his  closing  sermon  on  next  Sunday  morning." 

On  Sabbath  morning,  July  13th,  Mr.  Price  preached  his  last 
sermon  in  the  Seventh  Frankford  Church  from  I  Cor.  xv,  58: 


124  SEVENTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  1873 

"Therefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  etc."  The  pastor's  journal  has 
this  entry  touching  the  day's  services :  "Last  sermon  as  pastor 
in  Frankford  U.  P.  Church.  House  full.  Many  of  best  people 
in  town  present.  Got  through  with  services  very  well.  Many  of 
the  people  in  tears.  God  very  much  favored  me,  in  weather, 
health,  audience,  kind  friends,  etc." 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  this  day's  farewell  discourse, 
notice  of  which,  together  with  Mr.  Price's  work  in  the  Frankford 
Church,  was  published  in  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer,  July  14,  1873  ; 
also  in  the  denominational  papers. 

"In  concluding  my  labors  among  you  it  may  be  proper  to 
glance  at  the  work  done.  My  first  sermon  in  Frankford  was 
preached  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  February,  1855,  in  the  old  Baptist 
stone  Church,  corner  of  Pcnn  and  Church  streets.  I  was  then  a 
licentiate,  having  just  finished  my  collegiate  and  theological  stud- 
ies a  few  weeks  previous.  I  preached  here  during  February  and 
March  and  then  returned  to  New  York  State  for  a  few  weeks  to 
fill  appointments  there.  At  your  request  the  Associate  Synod  ap- 
pointed me  stated  supply  in  Frankford  for  one  year,  and  during 
my  absence  in  New  York  State  in  April,  1855.  your  congregation 
was  organized  as  the  result  of  my  earnest  labors  in  February 
and  March. 

"At  the  following  meeting  of  Synod,  in  May,  1856,  two  calls 
were  presented  to  me,  one  from  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  and  one  from 
this  congregation ;  as  you  know,  I  accepted  the  latter,  and  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  your  pastor  September  4th,  1856.  When 
I  came  among  you  there  was  no  church  building  belonging  to  the 
congregation,  as  you  then  worshipped  'in  your  own  hired  house.' 
Exertions  were  now  made  to  purchase  the  old  building  vacated 
by  die  Baptists  and  then  began  those  arduous  and  self-denying 
begging  labors  on  my  part,  for  which  I  have  become  somewhat 
noted  and  by  which  I  have  earned  the  title  of  a  good  beggar.  At 
that  time  I  collected  chiefly  around  Philadelphia,  Pittsburg,  and 
in  a  part  of  New  York  State  $1089.95  ^o^  the  i)urchase  and  re- 
pairs of  the  old  building  and  grounds. 

"In  1863  this  property  was  sold,  and  the  work  begun  of  se- 
curing means  for  the  erection  of  a  new  building,  in  which  work 
we  have  been  very  successful.  Through  my  own  personal  ex- 
ertions and  plans  set  on  foot  by  me.  I  secured  from  March  17th, 
1863,  to  June  24th,  1873,  the  sum  of  thirteen  thousand  six  hun- 
fjred  and  forty-seven  dollars  and  sixty-five  cents  for  the  new 
building,  leaving  a  balance  in  my  hands,  after  settling  all  bills  for 
ground  and  erection  of  building  of  $302.o<},  which  on  the  loth  inst. 
T  paid  over  to  the  treasurer  of  the  congregation,  Mr.  James 
Pollock. 

This  splendid  property,  costing  upward  of  $23,000.  is  to-day 
free  of  debt.    The  congregation  owes  a  small  amount  for  current 


1873         ENTERING  PARSONAGE   TO   PASTOR's    RESIGNATION.         125 

expenses,  but  all  bills  known  to  us  for  ground  and  church  build- 
ing, furnishing,  etc.,  have  been  paid,  and  the  building  is  perpet- 
ually insured  for  a  small  amount — $5000. 

"It  will  be  seen  that  my  labors  among  you  cover  a  period  of 
5ome  eighteen  years,  and  I  think  I  can  truly  say  they  have  been 
busy  and  laborious  years  on  my  part.  Some  may  think  that  on  ac- 
count of  the  present  size  of  the  congregation  that  little  has  been 
accomplished,  but  that  I  think  will  be  found  a  narrow  and  unjust 
view,  as  facts  will  show.  A  pastor's  success  is  not  always  to  be 
measured  by  the  members  he  can  show  remaining  in  the  con- 
gregation where  he  has  labored.  Fields  vary  very  much ;  in  some 
the  people  being  stationary ;  in  others  migratory,  and  this  being  an 
uncommonly  difficult  field  for  United  Presbyterian  culture,  it  has 
been  rendered  still  more  so  by  the  changing  character  of  the  pop- 
ulation, 

"Two  hundred  and  seventy-one  members  have  united  with 
this  congregation  since  its  organization.  This  is  an  average  of  over 
fourteen  members  a  year  for  the  eighteen  years  of  its  existence. 
Some  of  these  are  doing  noble  work  in  other  congregations.  Some 
are  dead  and  some  are  here  to-day  who  saw  the  congregation  take 
its  rise.  If  time  permitted  it  might  be  pleasant  and  profitable  to 
go  over  more  minutely  the  work  accomplished ;  because  we  have 
been  compelled  in  these  past  years  to  be  a  working  congregation 
and  I  have  endeavored  to  be  a  faithful  leader;  but  I  must  own, 
which  I  most  gladly  do  here  to-day,  that  I  have  had  noble  helpers ; 
some  of  whom  have  been  removed  to  other  fields  ;  some  have  fallen 
asleep  and  some  remain  with  us  until  this  present  time. 

"Among  those  workers  I  cannot  help  mentioning  our  dear 
father,  Daniel  Murphy,  the  Ruling  Elder,  whom  the  Lord  sent  to 
our  aid  just  when  most  needed  in  the  year  1858;  whose  counsels, 
liberality  and  untold  excellencies  this  congregation  can  never  for- 
get. The  male  members  of  this  congregation  have  worked  nobly ; 
nor  must  I  forget  the  labors  of  those  women  who  so  grandly 
helped  me  in  the  Lord.  This  congregation,  this  Sabbath  School, 
and  especially  this  beautiful  church  building,  is  largely  indebted 
to  the  labors  of  Christian  women,  who  have  been  nobly  led  by 
the  daughter  of  the  venerable  Elder  whose  name  I  have  just 
before  mentioned.  I  am  not  here  to-day  to  pronounce  eulogies.  I 
have  a  higher  duty  than  this  to  perform ;  it  is  to  do  justice  and  to 
speak  the  truth.  Only  some  of  the  members  of  this  congregation 
know  how  largely  it  is  indebted  to  the  continued,  persevering  and 
exhaustive  labors  of  Margaretta  Murphy  Cooper.  Her  name  can- 
not be  severed  from  this  congregation,  nor  from  its  building,  for 
she  has  written  it  in  the  stones,  by  securing  largely  the  means 
that  purchased  and  laid  them. 

"Now,  my  dear  friends  a  few  words  and  I  will  release  you.  I 
feel  very  warm  toward  the  people  of  this  congregation.  You 
have  uniformly  treated  me  with  uncommon  kindness,  and  my  in- 
tercourse with  the  ministers  and  people  of  all  denominations  in 


126  SICVRNTII   UNITICD   PRESBYTF.RIAN  CHURCH.  lfc»73 

ihis  town  has  been  truly  ileliglitful.  huleed  the  people  of  this 
entire  community  have  shown  special  favor  to  our  congregation 
and  its  pastor,  which  I  hope  we  shall  still  endeavor  to  merit  in  the 
future.    1  would  exhort  you  to  endeavor : 

"I.  To  go  forward  in  the  work  of  completing  this  church 
building.  Had  Cod  made  my  way  plain  to  continue  as  your  pas- 
tor you  are  aware  the  work  would  have  gone  forward.  Do 
you  show  that  it  can  be  so  when  I  am  gone  ;  since  a  comparatively 
small  part  remains  to  be  done.  Take  care,  officers  and  members, 
of  this  property,  and  remember  that  it  belongs  to  the  United 
Presbyterian  denomination  and  can  never  be  alienated  ;  having 
been  built  by  the  contributions  of  its  loving  people  here  and  else- 
where. Your  solemn  charter  and  title  deeds  bind  you  to  watch 
and  defend  it  in  the  changes  of  the  future.  Brethren,  be  true  to 
your  trust. 

"II.  Let  me  also  exhort  you  to  have  the  work  of  saving 
souls  go  on  here.  Keep  the  Sabbath  day ;  crowd  these  temple 
gates,  fill  these  pews  and  gather  in  from  the  world.  Keep  your 
eye  fast  on  this  pulpit,  guarding  the  doctrines  preached  from  it 
as  your  pastor  has  done  in  past  years.  Seek  to  have  the  ministers 
of  our  own  denomination  preach  here  and  dispense  the  ordinances. 
While  I  would  never  have  you  bigoted  seek  not  to  hear  the  voice 
of  strangers  in  this  building,  dedicated  to  the  dissemination  of  the 
doctrines  of  your  church,  which  you  are  assured  are  founded  on 
the  Bible.  Be  assured  you  shall  ever  find  the  warmest  friends 
in  the  Presbytery  under  which  you  have  the  honor  to  be  placed. 

"III.  Finally,  brethren,  be  at  peace  among  yourselves.  Never 
forget  the  parting  words  of  Jesus :  'A  new  commandment  I  give 
unto  you,  that  ye  love  one  another.'  Avoid  all  hatred  and  envy, 
and  malice  and  evil  speaking,  remembering  that  you  are  Christians, 
not  men  of  the  world.  Instead  of  biting  and  devouring  one  an- 
other, cherish  and  love  one  another  as  brethren,  for  your  own 
sakes,  for  the  Master's  sake,  for  His  cause  and  the  world's 
sake.  Contention  in  churches  is  one  of  the  most  dreadful  curses 
while  peace  is  the  grandest  blessing.  'Therefore,  my  beloved 
brethren,  be  steadfast,  etc'  Fellow  sinner,  I  make  my  final 
appeal  to  you  to-day.  Come  to  Christ  before  you  and  I  part.  Dear 
young  friends,  I  cannot  bid  you  farewell  until  I  see  you  safe  in 
the  heaven-provided  ark.  Behold  the  blackening  storm  and  then 
look  at  the  open  door.  Let  us  meet  on  heaven's  shores  when  the 
journey  is  over." 

In  the  Frankford  Herald  of  July,  26,  1873,  the  following 
will  be  found  : 

"Preamble  and  resolutions  of  the  V.  P.  Church  of  Frankford, 
Philadelphia,  relative  to  the  departure  of  their  pastor.  Rev.  James 
Price. 

"Whereas,  Through  the  action  of  Presbytery  anil  at  his  own 
request,  the  relation  existing  between  us,  as  pastor  and  people, 
has  been  brought  to  a  close,  therefore  : 


1873      e:nte;ring  parsonage  to  pastor's  resignation.       Iii7 

"Resolved,  That  we  deeply  regret  his  departure  from  among 
us,  and  feel  that  we  have  lost  a  faithful  minister,  a  kind  friend, 
and  an  attentive  pastor.  His  noble  exertions  in  erecting  our  new 
house  of  worship,  we  remember  with  gratefulness,  while  we  much 
regret  that  he  could  not  remain  with  us  longer  to  enjoy  the  fruit 
of  his  diligent  and  successful  labor.  We  trust  that  in  his  new 
field,  wherever  God  in  His  Providence  may  be  pleased  to  call  him 
he  and  his  partner  in  Hfe  may  find  a  pleasant  home,  kind  friends 
and  a  loving  and  attached  people.  They  go  from  us  severing  the 
closest  ties  of  affection,  and  with  the  warmest  desires  of  our 
hearts  for  their  welfare. 

"Resolved,  That  our  thanks  are  also  due  and  are  hereby  ten- 
dered to  our  late  pastor  for  his  kindness  in  making  us  a  donation 
of  $50  for  the  payment  of  supplies. 

JOHN  J.  STEWART, 
JAMES  POLLOCK, 
JAMES  T.  ROSS, 

Committee. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  Presbytery,  consisting  of  Rev. 
J.  C.  Wilson,  pastor  of  Third  Church ;  Elders  George  B.  Skilton 
and  William  M.  McKnight,  to  ejcamine  Mr.  Price's  building  fund 
accounts  and  mode  of  congregation's  settling  the  pastors  salary, 
presented  the  following  report,  the  original  of  which  will  be  found 
in  the  Souvenir : 

Second  U.  P.  Church,  Philadelphia,  July  7th,  1873. 
The  Committee  appointed  by  the  U.  P.  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, at  its  meeting  in  the  Second  U.  P.  Church  this  A.  M.  to 
examine  the  financial  report  of  Rev.  James  Price,  ot  Frankford, 
Philadelphia,  relative  to  monies  received  and  disbursed  by  him 
for  the  erection  of  the  U.  P.  Church,  Frankford,  Philadelphia^ 
would  respectfully  report  that  having  examined  the  account  they 
find  that  C.  M.  Cooper  and  R.  H.  Lackey  have  already  examined 
the  account  from  March  17,  1863,  to  September  7th,  1871,  which 
account  amounts  to  $13,223.92,  and  compared  the  same  said  ac- 
count with  Mr.  James  Price's  book,  find  it  correct. 

Also  your  Committee,  having  examined  of  monies  received 
and  disbursed  by  Mr.  Price  for  same  object  since  date  of  above 
report  up  to  July  7th,  1873,  do  find  the  same  account  correct;  and 
the  Committee  does  also  approve  of  the  extract  from  the  report 
of  the  Treasurer  of  the  congregation,  D.  Murphy,  and  also  the  ex- 
tract taken  from  the  minutes  of  the  congregational  meeting  of 
January  i,  1872,  signed  by  D.  Murphy,  Treasurer,  and  Alexander 
Galbraith,  chairman  of  congregational  meeting. 

JAMES  C.  WILSON,  Chairman, 
GEORGE  B.  SKILTON, 

WILLIAM  M.  Mcknight. 


128  SEVENTH   UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  1873 

The  following  are  copies  of  reports  of  Committees  touching 
the  same  matter: 

Having  examined  the  above  account  and  compared  it  with 
James  Price's  book  I  find  it  correct  to  date. 

C.  M.  COOPER, 
R.  H.  LACKEY. 
Frankford,  September   i,   1871. 

Frankford,  July  11,  1873. — You  Committee  has  compared  the 
above  account  with  Mr.  J.  M.  Price's  books  and  find  both  correct. 

JAMES  POLLOCK, 
JAMES  T.  ROSS, 
Secretary  of  Board  of  Trustees. 
According  to  previous  notice  a  meeting  of  the  Seventh  U.  P. 
congregation  was  held  Wednesday  evening,  July  i6th,  1873,  after 
prayer  meeting.     James  Pollock  was  made  chairman  and  James 
T.  Ross  secretary.    Mr.  James  Price  offered  his  report  as  collector 
of  monies  for  Building  Fund  of  Seventh  U.  P.  Church.  It  was  ac- 
cepted, and  it  was  resolved  that  Mr.  Price  be  furnished  with  a 
copy  of  the  adopting  resolution.    It  is  as  follows,  the  original  pa- 
per being  in  the  Souvenir : 

Philadelphia,  July  16,  1873. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Seventh  U.  P.  congrega- 
tion held  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  church,  our  late  pastor  read 
his  final  report  in  connection  w'ith  the  building  fund,  which  re- 
port had  been  previously  examined  by  several  Committees  of  the 
congregation ;  also  by  a  Committee  of  the  Presbytery,  and  cer- 
tified by  all  as  correct ;  it  was  resolved  that  the  same  be  accepted 
as  read ;  also  at  the  request  of  our  pastor  a  copy  of  the  same  to 
be  given  to  him. 

JAMES  T.  ROSS,  Secretary. 

It  will  doubtless  be  of  interest  here  to  notice  the  cost  of  the 
ground  and  new  building  of  the  Seventh  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  comer  of  Orthodox  and  Franklin  streets,  Frankford, 
Philadelphia,  which  cost  would  be  slightly  reduced  by  the  sale  of 
two  lots  to  the  pastor.  There  was  paid  to  Lewis  Brous  for  lots 
corner  of  Orthodox  and  Franklin  streets,  $2000 ;  and  to  Thomas 
B.  Taylor  for  lots  on  the  same  street,  $1800.  The  cost  of  the 
church  as  far  as  finished  was  $18,705.75,  making  the  total  cost  of 
grounds  and  church  $22,505.75.  Mr.  Price  as  a  collector,  or,  as 
he  was  sometimes  styled,  beggar,  collected  for  the  building  fund 
of  this  church,  mostly  through  his  own  personal  exertions,  as  fol- 
lows:  For  the  old  building  on  Baptist  Hill,  $1089.95;  ^o^  the  new 


1873  ENTERING    PARSONAGE    TO    PASTOr'S    RESIGNATION.  129 

building,  Orthodox  and  Franklin  streets,  $13,647.65,  making  a  to- 
tal of  $14,737.60. 

We  cannot  close  this  historical  sketch  without  calling  up  some 
names  on  the  membership  roll  during  the  years  of  the  writer's 
pastorate,  who  were  either  well  known  in  the  community  or  deeply 
interested  in  the  congregation's  work  and  were  special  helps  of 
their  pastor,  every  one  of  whom  have  long  since  rested  from  their 
labors. 

Thomas  McBride's  name  has  been  mentioned,  and  although 
he  never  took  an  active  part  in  the  congregation's  work,  being 
quite  advanced  in  years,  by  giving  employment  to  many  of  our 
early  members,  his  earnest  piety  and  generous  liberality  he  helped 
to  lay  the  foundations  of  the  congregation  and  might  be  termed 
its  father;  and  his  son  Robert,  one  of  the  first  Elders  of  the 
congregation,  labored  earnestly  and  self-deniedly  for  its  up-build- 
ing. Robert  Chambers,  also  one  of  the  first  Elders,  was  a  plain,  but 
sensible  and  godly  man.  His  beloved  partner,  Margaret  Cham- 
bers, died  in  1903,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years. 

Dr.  William  Taylor  showed  himself  to  be  a  most  valuable 
member  of  our  Frankford  Church ;  and  the  writer  feels  that  he 
was  as  much  of  a  Christian  gentleman  as  he  ever  met.  We  should 
have  mentioned  in  connection  with  McBride  and  Chambers,  dear 
aged  Sarah  Lackey,  who  used  to  say  to  the  young  pastor  at  the 
close  of  Sabbath  service :  "We  were  well  watered  to-day."  Mrs. 
Lackey  was  just  as  much  noted  for  attachment  to  her  church  as 
for  making  the  best  old  ladies'  caps  in  Frankford.  Alexander 
Lackey,  her  son,  and  his  excellent  wife,  were  most  useful  and 
consistent  members.  Robert  Moody,  as  we  have  seen,  was  a  most 
enthusiastic  worker  for  the  new  building.  Rachel  Wolf,  Eliza  Lat- 
imer, Daniel  Galbraith,  James  Pollock,  Samuel  Sykes,  John  J. 
Stewart  and  James  T.  Ross  endeavored  to  labor  faithfully.  Mrs. 
Annie  Pollock,  although  uniting  with  the  congregation  only  a 
short  time  before  the  writer's  resignation,  proved  one  of  his  no- 
blest helpers ;  and  the  friendship  betwen  him  and  her  was  only 
interrupted  by  her  death. 

The  name  of  Daniel  Murphy,  the  congregation's  Elder  and 
Treasurer,  has  already  been  mentioned,  but  an  additional  word 
is  due  to  him.  A  more  lovely  man,  and  one  nearer  to  heaven  the 
writer  never  knew.  This  godly  man  died  in  May,  1874,  and  the 
writer,  then  pastor  of  our  First  Church,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  was 
called  to  preach  his  funeral  sermon,  which  he  did  from  Psalm 


130  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1873 

xxxvii,  27r  "Mark  the  perfect  man."  The  speaker  said  he  had 
never  known  a  man  who  came  nearer  to  the  character  here  de- 
scribed than  our  deceased  friend.  Mr.  Murphy  had  been  a  man 
fillings  the  highest  offices  in  our  denomination  for  more  than  a 
half-century.  He  was  universally  liked,  and  his  simple  but  un- 
questioned piety  had  a  powerful  influence  on  men. 

Mrs.  Margaretta  Alurpliy  Cooper,  the  daughter  of  the  person 
just  mentioned,  was  a  church  worker  than  whom  the  writer  has 
never  known  a  better  or  more  successful  one.  In  the  five  congre- 
gations of  our  denomination  with  which  she  was  connected  in  this 
city,  the  First,  Third,  Sixth,  Seventh  and  Twelfth,  she  was  al- 
ways a  modest  but  earnest  leader.  It  was  under  her  management 
that  the  interior  of  the  old  Baptist  Church,  purchased  by  our  con- 
gregation, was  renovated  and  made  more  comfortable ;  and  it  was 
she  that  inaugurated  in  1858  those  pleasant  Sabbath  School 
festivals  and  afterward  Church  entertainments  for  which  our 
Frankford  Church  became  so  noted.  Of  the  seven  fairs  held  for 
the  benefit  of  the  new  building  of  our  Frankford  Church,  she  was 
the  ])rime  mover  and  live  wire  in  every  one  of  them,  and,  without 
lier,  not  one  of  them  could  have  been  undertaken  or  carried  for- 
ward. Many  a  fifty  and  hundred  dollars  from  the  Mite  Society, 
of  which  she  was  President,  did  she  pay  to  the  needy  funds  of 
the  Seventh  congregation,  for  the  securing  of  which  she  had  to 
tramp  the  streets  of  Frankford  and  Philadelphia  month  after 
month  and  year  after  year,  and  wearing  out  many  a  pair  of 
shoes.  Eternity  alone  can  reveal  the  good  which  this  woman  did 
in  the  churches  with  which  she  was  connected. 

The  last  name  among  others  which  might  be  called  up  which 
I  will  mention  is  that  of  Miss  Eleanor  Deborah  Jones  Hoaglaml ; 
born  January  i8,  1807,  she  died  August  14,  1884,  and  she  de- 
serves notice  on  various  grounds.  She  was  a  lady  of  prominence 
in  the  community ;  interested  in  benevolent  work ;  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence ;  and  she  was  one  of  our  earnest  church 
workers.  Her  house  was  a  charming  gathering  place  for  our 
young  church  members.  We  may  be  said  to  have  received  her 
into  our  church  from  the  world,  and  the  writer  feels  he  can  claim 
her  as  a  spiritual  child,  boni  through  his  preaching  of  Christ. 

The  writer  baptized  this  lady  and  received  her  into  the 
Frankford  Church,  June  2,  1859,  when  she  was  fifty-two  years  of 
age.  There  is  nothing  improper  in  stating  that  Miss  Hoagland 
was  once  tempted  with  skeptical  notions  ;  as  she  so  stated  to  the 


1873  ENTERING    PARSONAGE   TO    PASTOR'S    RESIGNATION.  131 

writer  in  a  pastoral  visit  made  to  her  in  the  year  1862.  It  ought 
to  be  said  to  her  lasting  honor  and  in  acknowledgment  of  the  pow- 
er of  Divine  grace,  that  she  fought  against  and  in  some  good 
measure  conquered  these  wretched  insinuations. 

Born  at  a  time  when  infidel  doctrines  of  the  French  Revolu- 
tion were  popular  and  were  yielding  their  fruits  in  America  as  well 
as  in  Europe,  it  is  hardly  to  be  expected  that  an  ardent  young  mind 
thrown  into  public  society  and  the  marts  of  business,  and  deprived, 
it  may  be,  of  the  strict  care  of  a  religious  home,  would  be  entirely 
proof  against  the  skeptical  influences  which  ruined  so  many  of 
the  young  of  that  day.  I  feel  that  we  have  evidence  to  believe  that 
she  was  a  true  child  of  God,  and  that  she  is  now  reaping  the  joys 
of  the  upper  world.  The  traits  possessed  by  Miss  Hoagland  were 
such  as  would  make  a  person  attractive  and  popular  anywhere ;  but 
especially  were  they  such  as  are  desirable  in  a  professing  Chris- 
tian. She  was  especially  an  intelligent  and  cultivated  woman.  She 
read  both  books  and  human  nature.  Her  manners  were  polished, 
almost  courtly.  She  was  strictly  upright,  generous,  benevolent 
and  hospitable ;  and  among  the  highest  tributes  we  can  pay  her 
is  that  when  she  died  she  was  greatly  missed  in  the  community. 

Such  was  the  Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Congregation 
during  the  first  twenty  years  of  its  existence.  Like  many  an  am- 
bitious youth  it  had  its  ups  and  downs,  its  longing  aspirations  and 
its  heroic  struggles ;  but,  best  of  all,  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church 
never  forsook  the  workers;  and  the  schooling  which  it  received 
in  trial,  in  earnest  labor  and  self-denying  liberality  have  unques- 
tionably yielded  fruit  in  later  years. 


HK\'.  M.   <;.    Kvi.i:.   i>.    i  >. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FROM  THE  RESIGNATION  OF  JAMES  PRICE,  FIRST 
PASTOR,  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME.     1873-1905. 

The  writer  having  been  requested  by  Rev.  M.  G.  Kyle,  D. 
D.,  the  present  pastor  of  the  Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Con- 
gregation, together  with  some  of  its  leading  officers,  to  continue 
the  history  to  the  present  time,  he  has  consented  to  comply  with 
this  request,  but  as  the  narrative  of  the  congregation  has  already 
much  surpassed  the  bound  which  he  had  originally  intended,  aris- 
ing from  the  rich  material  alone  in  his  possession,  together  with  a 
quite  clear  memory  of  the  events  and  matters  related,  he  feels 
that  this  closing  chapter  must  and  ought  to  be  a  brief  one. 

After  the  writer's  resignation  as  pastor  the  pulpit  of  the 
Seventh  congregation  was  supplied  for  some  months.  He  felt 
before  leaving  Philadelphia  the  importance  of  having  a  suitable 
and  faithful  minister  to  take  up  the  work  which  he  had  just 
laid  down,  and  bethought  himself  of  a  special  friend  of  his  own, 
Rev.  James  B.  Whitten,  whom  in  previous  years  he  had  recom- 
mended to  Rev.  Hugh  Henry  Blair  as  a  suitable  pastor  for  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Forty-fourth  Street  Congregation,  New 
York. 

He  now  felt  that  this  brother  would  be  a  fit  minister  for  the 
Frankford  Church,  and  so  made  it  his  business  to  visit  the  homes 
of  quite  a  number  of  the  families  and  recommend  him  to  them. 
Rev.  W.  C.  Jackson,  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Church,  Philadelphia, 
a  friend  of  Mr.  Whitten's,  also  labored  in  the  same  direction.  The 
consequence  was  that  in  December,  1873,  Mr.  Whitten,  by  ap- 
pointment of  Presbytery's  Committee  of  Supplies,  dispensed  the 
Communion  in  the  Seventh  congregation,  and  on  February  i6th, 
1874,  a  call  for  him  was  sustained  by  the  Presbytery,  and,  being 
accepted,  he  was  installed  on  January  25th,  1875. 

Mr.  Whitten  entered  on  the  work  with  earnestness  and  much 
encouragement  from  the  people.  A  number  of  the  old  families 
and  members  of  the  congregation,  who  had   fallen   away  from 


134  SEVENTH    UMTKD    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1880 

mcmbersliii)  on  account  of  the  exercise  of  discipline  and  other 
causes,  returned  and  hecame  very  active  and  useful. 

(^n  May  3d,  1880,  Mr.  Wliitten  offered  his  resignation  as 
pastor  on  account  of  ill  health  and  insufficient  support.  The  congre- 
gation at  next  meeting  of  Preshytery,  expressed  a  desire  that 
their  pastor  should  remain  with  them,  promising  to  try  and  sup- 
plement the  salary  hy  $200,  and  asking  the  Presbytery  to  add  to 
this  $100  annually  for  two  years.  To  this  the  Presbytery  agreed, 
the  resignation  was  withdrawn  and  Mr.  Whitten  returned  to  the 
work,  the  salary  being  increased  to  $1200. 

On  September  7th,  1882,  Mr.  Whitten  again  offered  his  resig- 
nation as  pastor,  which  was  accepted,  and  he  was  released  Sep- 
tember 13th,  1882.  The  Presbytery  at  this  meeting  passed  feeling 
resolutions  of  regret  in  parting  with  this  brother,  and  bore  testi- 
mony to  his  uniform  courtesy  and  kindness  as  well  as  to  the 
good  work  he  did  in  the  Seventh  congregation. 

During  Mr.  Whitten's  pastorate  87  members  were  added  to 
the  congregation,  46  by  profession  and  41  by  certificate,  leaving  at 
his  release  100  on  the  roll,  being  13  more  than  when  Mr.  Price  re- 
signed and  5  more  than  in  the  years  1866  and  1872,  of  Mr.  Price's 
pastorate.  Mr.  Whitten  was  descended  from  an  old  and  honored 
family  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  was  a  man  of  talent,  a  good  preacher, 
a  most  genial  companion,  witty  and  lasting  in  his  friendship,  and 
he  did  an  excellent  work  in  the  Frankford  congregation. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Price  was  released  in  the  year  1873  there 
was  only  one  Ruling  Elder  in  the  congregation,  Daniel  Murphy, 
with  two  others  ])resbytcrially  appointed  to  assist,  and  afterward 
other  provisional  members  were  added.  The  congregation  having 
elected  John  P.  Scott,  James  T.  Ross  and  John  J.  Stewart  as 
Ruling  Elders  they  were  installed  February  r)th,  1879,  and  on 
October  loth,  1884,  Messrs.  Robert  L.  Ivatimer,  Geo.  M.  Taylor 
and  Samuel  Cummings  were  installed  as  members  of  the  Session. 

Mr.  Robert  L.  Latimer,  who  was  the  youngest  Elder  ever 
installed  over  the  congregation,  being  at  that  time  only  twenty-two 
years  of  age  is  the  only  one  of  the  choice  of  1884  now  a  member 
of  the  session,  death  having  removed  John  P.  Scott,  James  T. 
Ross,  Samuel  Cummins,  George  M.  Taylor  and  John  J.  Stewart. 

From  time  to  time  additional  Elders  have  been  added,  as  fol- 
lows:  On  October  ist,  1893,  John  A.  Stewart,  Charles  M.  White 
and  Thomas  W.  Latimer  were  installed ;  and  on  October  8th,  1899, 
W.  P.  McMaster,  Stewart  Michell,  Sr.,  Thomas  Megowan  and 
Thomas  McCaulev  were  inducted  into  the  same  office. 


!KV.    .J.\:MKS    13.    \VH1XTEN' 


.!<  >l  I  N       I  ■.     S<  ■<  >l"l- 


1883  RESIGNATION   OF   JAMES    PRICE    TO    PRESENT    TIME.  135 

At  the  monthly  meetings  of  the  session  it  has  been  customary 
in  addition  to  extended  devotional  exercises  and  attention  to  busi- 
ness, to  take  up  and  discuss  some  theological  proposition  or  one  of 
our  denominational  doctrines  and,  to  show  the  loyalty  and  fidelity 
of  the  Session  to  their  own  Church,  it  may  be  stated  that  at  a 
monthly  meeting  the  question  of  Communion  was  considered, 
when  a  resolution  was  passed  to^  maintain  the  truth  as  set  forth 
in  Article  Sixteen  of  the  Testimony. 

There  is  another  excellent  feature  of  work  which  this  Ses- 
sion practices — that  of  training  newly  chosen  Elders  in  Christian 
doctrine  and  our  distinctive  principles,  between  the  time  of  their 
election  and  installation,  and  sometimes  drilling  them  in  the  Short- 
er Catechism  and  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

It  may  also  be  here  stated  that  as  far  back  as  the  year  1879 
the  congregation  was  divided  into  sessional  districts  for  visitation 
and  these  districts  were  rearranged  and  mutiplied  from  time  to 
time  as  the  members  of  Session  have  increased,  so  that  each  Elder 
should  have  assigned  to  him  his  field  of  labor. 

Among  those  who  have  acted  as  Stated  Clerks  of  the  Session 
of  the  Seventh  Congregation  may  be  mentioned  Robert  McBride, 
Daniel  Murphy,  John  P.  Scott,  J.  J.  Stewart  and  Robert  L.  Lati- 
mer, who  at  this  writing  fills  the  office.  To  the  historian  of  the 
Church  an  intelligent  and  careful  clerk  of  ecclesiastical  courts  and 
one  who  is  a  good  penman  is  not  only  a  help  but  a  joy,  and  it 
needs  to  be  said  that  Robert  McBride,  John  P.  Scott  and  espe- 
cially Robert  L.  Latimer  have  met  these  requirements. 

After  the  release  of  Mr.  Whitten  as  pastor  the  pulpit  was 
supplied  for  about  a  year.  In  March,  1883,  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Edie, 
of  Beaver  Valley  Presbytery,  was  invited  to  become  pastor,  but 
he  declined  the  call.  On  November  26th,  1883,  Rev.  Davis  W. 
Lusk,  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  was  installed  over  the 
congregation  ;  in  which  connection  this  young  brother  remained  for 
less  than  two  years,  he  being  released  on  March  30th,  1885,  to  ac- 
cept a  call  from  the  Sixth  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Newark, 
N.  J.  Both  the  congregation  and  the  Presbytery  expressed  their 
regret  at  parting  with  him  and  bore  testimony  to  his  faithfulness 
and  the  excellent  work  which  he  had  done. 

The  writer  remembers  with  pleasure  that  Mr.  Lusk  preached 
the  sermon  on  May  19th,  1884,  at  his  installation  as  pastor  of  the 
Twelfth  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  and  he  can 
never  forget  the  kindness  of  this  brother  and  his  accomplished 


136  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1886 

lady  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  his  beloved  wife,  Anna  Robert- 
son Price. 

The  congregation  had  now  another  vacancy  of  a  year;  dur- 
ing which  various  ministers  supplied  the  pulpit.  In  January,  1886, 
the  congregation  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  \V.  J.  Martin,  of  Dela- 
ware Presbytery,  which  he  declined.  On  March  i,  1886,  a  call 
was  sustained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  on  Mr.  Melvin 
Grove  Kyle,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Muskingum.  This  call  being  ac- 
cepted, Mr.  Kyle  was  ordained  and  installed  over  the  congregation 
May  10,  1886,  and  still  continues  with  great  acceptance  to  be  the 
pastor. 

.\ttention  may  here  be  called  to  a  change  which  the  congre- 
gation made  in  its  place  of  worship  and  its  location  during  Mr. 
Whitten's  pastorate.  It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  location  of 
the  church  built  in  Mr.  Price's  time  was  northwest  corner  of  Or- 
thodox and  Franklin  streets,  a  location  unsurpassed  in  all  North 
Philadelphia,  and  the  stone  building  planned  by  Architect  Windrim 
after  the  early  English  style  was  universally  admired  and  was 
finished  except  the  one  story  audience  room  in  front. 

In  the  year  1876  the  Seventh  Congregation  sold  the  Church 
and  grounds  at  Orthodox  and  Franklin  streets  to  the  Central 
Methodist  congregation  of  Frankford,  for  $16,000,  which,  with 
the  mortgage  made  $18,000.  The  Methodist  people  afterward  fin- 
ished the  church,  and  then  in  later  years  tore  down  the  front  part, 
rebuilding  it,   and  enlarging  the  two-story  back  part. 

Our  Seventh  congregation  then  purchased  ground  on  the 
southeast  comer  of  Orthodox  and  Leiper  streets,  on  which  a 
smaller  stone  church,  very  neat  and  attractive,  was  erected,  and 
opened  for  Divine  worship  February  25th,  1877. 

Among  those  who  have  conducted  the  praise  service  of  the 
congregation  in  late  years  were  George  M.  Taylor,  Charles  M. 
White  and  Robert  T.  Taylor,  the  present  precentor.  In  the  year 
1895  there  being  quite  a  general  desire  for  the  accompaniment  of 
instrumental  music  in  worship  the  organ  was  introduced  by  and 
under  direction  of  the  Session,  and  that  without  opposition  on 
the  part  of  the  people.  Miss  Janie  M.  Taylor  is  at  present  the 
organist. 

The  Sabbath  Schools  which  are  large  and  very  interesting, 
have  been  superintended  by  the  Pastor,  Dr.  Kyle,  George  M.  Tay- 
lor and  Robert  L.  Latimer,  who  at  present  fills  the  office  and  the' 
Assistant  Superintendents  have  been  W.  P.  McMaster  and  Robert 
T.  Taylor. 


SSEVIOJCTII  V>:]TED    J>1«K><HV1"1-:]<J.\X    <-H\-H(H.    1^! 


190i       RESIGNATION  'OT?  JAMES   PRICE  TO    PRESENT   TIME.  137" 

There  are  some  features  about  the  Seventh  congregation, 
which  are  most  commendable  and  deHghtful,  among  which  are 
their  missionary  spirit,  Hberality  and  harmonious  effort  to  work 
together  for  the  upbuilding  of  Christ's  Kingdom.  Besides  labor- 
ing enthusiastically  for  our  denomination  in  the  home  and  for-. 
eign  field  they  have  sometimes  thought  of  mission  efforts  in  the 
villages  around  them ;  and  the  congregation  has  recently  resolved 
to  become  responsible  for  the  support  of  one  of  their  own  mem- 
bers who  is  a  medical  missionary  in  our  Egyptian  field — Miss 
Lizzie  Dorcas  Teas. 

We  cannot  but  here  also  speak  of  the  congregation's  liberal- 
ity ;  a  spirit  of  which  would  appear  to  have  grown  gradually  from 
January  1865,  when,  through  Mr.  Price's  efforts  a  single  special 
collection  for  missions  yielded  over  $150,  even  when  the  member- 
ship was  small  and  the  people  poor.  In  April,  1904,  the  regular 
^•quarterly  collection  from  the  different  departments  of  the  con- 
gregation for  the  same  purpose  was  $535,  and  the  report  for  the 
present  year  will  show  still  greater  progress.  The  congregation 
has  for  years  paid,  and  overpaid  what  is  known  as  its  quota  to 
the  Boards  of  the  Church,  and  so  stands  on  the  honor  list  of 
our  denomination. 

One  reason  for  this  enlarged  benevolent  work  is  that  the  con- 
gregation is  thoroughly  organized,  having  Christian  Union,  Mis- 
sionary, Benevolent,  Temperance  and  other  societies,  most  of 
which  are  composed  of  young  people  who  labor  together  with 
great  unanimity.  And  what  must  be  a  great  encouragement  to, 
and  even  the  delight  of  the  pastor,  there  is  a  large  band  of  devoted 
females  who  from  love  of  Christian  work  and  long  training  are 
ever  ready  for  any  congregational  effort  which  is  to  be  made.  To 
this  congregation  also  belongs  the  honor  of  having  furnished  to 
our  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  two  of  its  leading  officers :  Dr. 
Kyle,  President,  and  Robert  L.  Latimer,  the  Treasurer. 

The  relationship  between  Dr.  Kyle,  the  present  pastor,  and 
the  congregation  has  been  one  of  mutual  pleasure.  Years  ago,  both 
the  Session  and  Board  of  Trustees  voluntarily  agreed  to  give  the 
pastor  a  yearly  vacation  of  a  month.  And  as  Dr.  Kyle  has  for 
years  been  devoting  attention  to  archaeological  studies  with  the 
laudable  aim  of  illustrating  and  defending  the  Holy  Scriptures^ 
the  congregation  has  generously  granted  their  pastor  the  privi- 

*  In  November,  1904,  weekly  missionary  offerings  were  in- 
troduced. 


138  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1904 

lege  of  visitinc^  Bible  countries  from  time  to  time,  for  the  pur- 
suance of  these  studies. 

Dr.  Kyle  besides  beinj^  a  scholarly  man  and  a  close  student, 
is  at  the  same  time  a  clear  and  eloquent  preacher,  as  also  a  faith- 
ful pastor.  In  appreciation  of  his  talents  and  attainments  as  a 
scholar  he  received  from  Cooper  College,  in  1894.  the  title  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  to  show  the  estimation  in  which  he  is 
held  by  the  Church  he  was  appointed  by  its  General  Assembly 
a  member  of  the  Committee  for  the  organization  of  Our  Young 
People's  Christian  Union ;  he  drew  up  its  Constitution,  and  was  for 
years    its    General    Secretary. 

He  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  President  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  which  has  required  him 
to  represent  his  denomination  in  General  Missionary  Conventions, 
and  the  General  Assembly  has  also  appointed  him  a  delegate  to 
the  Pan-Presbyterian  Council  of  1904.  During  the  last  seventeen 
years  Dr.  Kyle  has  truly  accomplished  a  great  work  in  the  Frank- 
ford  Church. 

From  the  statistical  report  of  the  Seventh  congregation  for 
1904  the  following  appears:  Elders,  6;  Communicants,  248;  Be- 
nevolent Contributions  to  Boards  of  Church,  $1237.  Total  amount 
for  all  purposes,  $4846.  Members  of  Young  People's  Societies, 
120;  Teachers,  Officers  and  Scholars  in  the  Sabbath  Schools,  302. 

Among  those  who  in  later  years  have  taken  a  prominent  part 
in  the  congregation's  work  may  be  mentioned  the  late  George  M. 
Taylor.  Mr.  Taylor,  like  other  members  of  his  father's  family, 
was  educated  in  our  Church,  and  for  it  he  never  lost  his  love.  Al- 
though holding  a  most  important  and  lucrative  office  in  one  of  the 
great  corporations  of  the  country,  he  always  found  time  to  attend 
to  all  the  duties  of  the  various  positions  which  he  had  been  called 
to  fill  in  the  congregation  ;  and  to  these  duties  he  gave  his  talents, 
.s])are  hours  and  his  means. 

VVe  have  now  told  the  story  of  an  organization  begun  in  weak- 
ness, but  which  has  grown  to  be  a  thing  of  power  in  the  commu- 
nity ;  a  useful  factor  in  our  denomination,  and  whose  possibilities 
of  the  future  may.  and  it  is  hoped  will,  far  surpass  the  attainments 
of  the  past  half  century. 


<iKOUttK     M.    'I'.VVl^OK 


APPENDIX.  139 

APPENDIX  A. 

Frankford,  Philadelphia,  June  27,  1902. 
Rev.  James  Price, 

107  E.  Lehigh  avenue. 
Dear  Brother: — 

I  have  examined  the  books  of  the  Frankford  Baptist  Church 
which  were  kept  by  the  Clerk,  also  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  and  have  obtained  therefrom  the  following  informa- 
tion pertaining  to  the  sale  of  their  Church  property  to  the  Seventh 
United  Presbyterian  Congregation. 

Taken  from  minutes  of  Board  of  Trustees  August  3,  1854. 
Committee  appointed  to  rent  the  Old  Church.  The  Board  set  the 
price,  in  case  they  should  want  to  buy  the  Church,  at  three  thou- 
sand ($3000)  dollars.  November  12,  1855.  Committee  on  the 
Old  Church  authorized  to  sell  the  same  to  the  best  advantage. 

Taken  from  Church  minutes.  Wednesday  evening,  April  24, 
1856.  On  motion  resolved  that  the  Trustees  have  discretionary 
power  in  the  sale  of  the  Old  Church  building  and  lot. 

Taken  from  minutes  of  Trustees  May  5,  1856.  Committee 
on  the  Old  Church  was  authorized  to  take  such  steps  as  are  nec- 
essary to  transfer  the  same  to  the  Trustees  of  the  congregation 
now  worshiping  there.  October  13,  1856.  Committee  on  Old 
Church  property  made  the  report  that  they  have  had  an  Article 
of  Agreement  drawn  up  and  one-half  of  the  purchase  money  paid, 
which  was  eight  hundred  (800)  dollars.  Taken  from  Church  min- 
utes May  17,  1859.  A  special  meeting  was  held,  the  object  of  which 
was  to  take  action  on  the  transfer  of  the  Old  Church  property, 
situate  on  the  comer  of  Pine  and  Edward  streets,  and  a  preamble 
and  resolutions  w-ere  unanimously  adopted.  Whereas,  in  and  by 
certain  Articles  of  Agreement  bearing  date  of  9th  day  of  August, 
A.  D.  1856,  the  Trustees  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  Congregation 
of  the  Borough  of  Frankford,  in  the  Township  of  Oxford,  in  the 
County  of  Philadelphia,  have  agreed  to  sell  and  convey  unto  the 
Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Philadelphia,  all 
that  certain  Church  building  and  lot,  or  piece  of  ground  situate  on 
the  westwardly  corner  of  Pine  and  Edward  streets  in  the  late  Bor- 
ough of  Frankford ;  containing  in  front  on  said  Pine  street  70 
feet  five  (5)  inches ;  and  in  the  rear  end  "^2  feet ;  and  on  said  Ed- 
ward street  1 1 1  feet  and  one-tenth  of  a  foot,  and  northwesterly 
side  III  feet  and  seven-tenths  of  a  foot.  The  Resolutions  attached 
to  this  Preamble  pertain  to  rights  of  the  members  in  voting  on  the 
agreement  to  sell  the  property  and  the  duties  of  the  Trustees  in 
relation  to  the  same ;  and.  therefore,  I  have  not  sent  you  this  in- 
formation as  I  did  not  think  it  would  be  of  use  to  you.  Hoping 
what  I  have  written  may  of  some  assistance  to  you  in  compiling 
the  history  of  the  Seventh  United  Presbyterian  Church, 

I  remain  very  truly, 

ROBERT  W.  RIMER, 

1665  Unity  street. 


140 


SKVENTH    I'NlTIvD    PRESBYTKRIAN    ClU'RCH. 


APPENDIX  B. 


Cost  of  Old  Church  and 
Penn  streets,  Frankford,  with 
same: 

RECEIPTS. 

Paid  Baptist  con- 
gregation for 
church  and 
ground    $1,600.00 

Interest 8.00 

$1,608.00 

Emanuel       Peters, 

stone    wall 709.12 

J.  Brown,  paving.  .        12.25 

R.      Wood,      iron 
gate    16.00 

Taylor     &     Foulk- 

rod,    carpenters.       107.18 

Holmes     &       Co., 
painting    1440 

Mr.    Smith,   labor.        11.62 

Pastor's     expenses 
collecting  46.94 

Sundries   9.28 


grounds,   corner  of  Church   and 
moneys  received  for  payment  of 


EXPENDITURES. 

Subscriptions    by    Fourth 
ciate   Church: 
Thomas    McBride.  .$500.00 

R.  McBride 250.00 

William  Taylor  ....    loo.oo 

Sarah  Lackey 50.00 

Mary  Wood 16.00 

R.  Chambers  10.00 

James  Woodside   .  .     10.00 
S.  A.   Haworth  ....     10.00 

R.  Dunlap 5.00 

Thos.   McBride,  Jr.       5.00 


Asso- 


Additional  cost: 
Conveyancing  .  . . 
Window     shades. 

Stores    

Carpet     

Whitewashing  .  . . 

Lamps  

Pulleys    

Plastering    


926.79 


10.00 
15.00 
60.00 
30.00 

8.00 
20.00 

8.00 
10.00 


Collected    by    the 
following: 

R.    McBride    $140.70 

Agnes  McBride    ...  53-50 

S.  Morrison  37-00 

Jane  Taylor  35-00 

Margt.    Chambers.  .  19.00 

.A.nn  Smith    23.00 

Sarah  Lackey   20.00 

Tillie    Walker    12.35 

Louisa  Morrison...  5.00 


$956.00 


345-55 
45-32 


Monthly  subscriptions    .  . . 
Collected  by  James  Price, 
the  pastor  1,090.05 


161.00 


$2,436.92 


$2,695.79 

APPENDIX  C. 

CHARTER. 
To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Greeting : — 
Know  ye  that  we,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being 
citizens  of  the  Comnionweallh  of  Pennsylvania,  have  associated 
ourselves  for  the  purpose  of  worshiping  Almighty  God,  and  being 
desirous  of  accjuiring  and  enjoying  tlie  powers  and  immunities 
of  a  corporation  or  body  politic  in  law  according  to  the  Act  of  As- 
sembly of  this  Commonwealth  in  such  case  made  and  provided  : 
for  the  furtherance  of  which  purpose  we  do  hereby  declare  that 
we  have  associated  ourselves  together  for  the  aforesaid  object  and 
under  the  articles,  conditions  and  names  specified  in  the  following 
Articles,  that  is  to  say  : 

ARTICLE  I. 

The  name  and  title  of  this  congregation  shall  be  "The  Sev- 
cntli  Ignited  Pre.sbvtcrian  Congregation  of  Philadelphia." 


APPENDIX.  14l 

ARTICLE  II. 

The  subscribers  and  such  others  as  shall  hereafter  be  admit- 
ted or  become  members  of  the  said  Congregation,  being  citizens 
of  this  Commonwealth,  who  adhere  to  the  religious  principles  ex- 
pressed in  a  basis  of  Union  and  Testimony  for  the  doctrine  and  or- 
der of  the  Church  of  Christ,  agreed  to  at  Pittsburg  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  May  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight,  by  the  Associate  and  Associate  Reformed 
Synods  of  North  America,  shall  become  and  be  a  corporation  or 
body  politic  in  law  and  in  fact,  to  have  continuance  by  the  name, 
style  and  title  aforesaid  and  shall  have  full  power  and  authority- 
to  make,  have,  and  use,  one  common  seal  with  such  device  and  in- 
scription as  they  shall  deem  proper,  and  the  same  to  break,  alter 
or  renew  at  their  pleasure  ;  and  by  the  name,  style  and  title  afore- 
said shall  be  capable  in  law  to  sue  and  be  sued,  to  plead  and  be 
impleaded  in  any  court  or  courts  before  any  judge  or  judges,  jus- 
tice or  justices,  in  all  manner  of  suits,  complaints,  pleas,  causes, 
matters  and  demands  whatsoever,  and  all  and  every  matter  or 
thing  therein  to  do  in  as  full  and  effectual  a  manner  as  any  other 
person  or  persons,  bodies,  corporate  and  politic,  within  this 
Commonwealth  may  or  can  do,  and  shall  be  authorized  and  em- 
powered to  make  rules,  by-laws  and  ordinances  and  to  do  every- 
thing needful  for  the  good  government  and  support  of  the  affairs 
of  said  corporation ;  Provided,  always,  that  the  said  by-laws,  rules 
and  ordinances  or  any  of  them  be  not  repugnant  to  the  Constitu- 
tion and  laws  of  the  United  States,  to  the  Constitution  and  laws 
of  the  Commonwealth,  or  of  this  present  instrument. 

ARTICLE  III. 

The  said  Congregation  and  their  successors,  by  the  name, 
style  and  title  aforesaid,  shall  be  able  and  capable  in  law,  according 
to  the  terms  and  conditions  of  this  instrument,  to  take,  receive 
and  hold  all  and  all  manner  of  lands,  tenements,  rents,  annuities, 
franchises  and  hereditaments,  any  sum  or  sums  of  money  and  any 
manner  and  portion  of  goods  and  chattels  bequeathed  to  the  said 
Corporation,  to  be  employed  and  disposed  of  according  to  the 
objects,  articles  and  conditions  of  this  instrument,  the  articles  and 
by-laws  of  the  said  Congregation  or  the  will  and  intention  of  the 
donors ;  Provided,  always,  that  the  clear  yearly  value  or  income 
of  the  messuages,  houses,  lands  and  tenements,  rents,  annuities  and 
hereditaments  and  real  estate  of  the  said  Congregation  and  interest 
of  money  by  the  said  Congregation  loaned,  shall  not  exceed  the 
sum  of  two  thousand  dollars :  Whensoever  any  property,  real  or 
personal,  shall  be  at  any  time  bequeathed,  devised  or  conveyed  to 
this  congregation,  the  same  shall  be  taken  and  held  or  inure  exclu- 
sively subject  to  the  control  and  disposition  of  the  lay  members 
thereof  and  not  otherwise. 


142  SKVKNTH    UNITKD    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

There  shall  be  a  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  said  Congrega- 
tion, which  shall  consist  of  six  members  who  shall  be  in  full  com- 
munion with  the  said  Congregation  by  partaking  of  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

ARTICLK  V. 

There  shall  be  an  annual  election  on  the  first  day  of  every 
year,  except  it  fall  on  the  Lord's  Day,  and  then  on  the  day  fol- 
lowing, for  two  Trustees  to  serve  for  three  years.  The  said  elec- 
tion shall  be  held  in  the  Church  and  the  votes  shall  be  by  ballot. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

The  time  of  the  first  two  named  of  the  present  Trustees  shall 
expire  on  the  first  day  of  January  next,  when  a  new  election  shall 
take  place  as  aforesaid ;  the  time  of  the  next  two  of  the  present 
Trustees  shall  expire  on  the  first  day  of  January  in  the  year  of 
Our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty,  when  a  new  elec- 
tion shall  take  place  as  aforesaid ;  and  the  time  of  the  last  two  of 
the  present  Trustees  shall  expire  on  the  first  day  of  January  in  the 
year  of  Our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one.  when 
a  new  election  shall  take  place  as  aforesaid,  provided  that  any 
Trustee  whose  time  may  expire  may  be  re-elected. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

On  the  death,  removal  or  resignation  of  any  Trustee  a  new 
election  shall  be  held  to  supply  his  place,  and  the  person  chosen 
shall  serve  only  for  the  time  such  member  had  to  serve  unless  re- 
elected. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

The  power  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  shall  extend  only  to  the 
temporalities  of  the  Church,  in  rating  and  letting  the  pews,  collect- 
ing the  pew  rents,  or  other  dues  of  the  Church,  receiving  the  pub- 
lic collections,  keeping  the  place  of  worship  and  burying  ground 
in  repair,  providing  for  and  paying  the  debts  of  the  Church,  fixing 
and  paying  the  salary  of  the  minister,  clerk  and  sexton,  and  when 
the  funds  admit  of  it  to  relieve  the  jioor  of  the  Congregation  and 
maintain  a  school ;  but  they  shall  have  no  power  to  alienate  the 
Church  or  lot  of  ground  or  dispose  of  the  public  monies  for  other 
use  than  that  for  which  they  were  intended. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

The  Trustees,  four  of  whom  shall  be  a  quorum,  shall  meet 
the  first  Monday  after  the  election  and  afterwards  as  business  shall 
require ;  they  shall  choose  from  among  themselves  a  president  and 
treasurer,  and  from  among  themselves  or  others  a  secretary  and 
appoint  a  sexton. 


APPENDIX.  143 

ARTICLE  X. 
The  Trustees  shall  have  power  to  make  by-laws  for  regulat- 
ing their  own  proceedings ;  provided  such  by-laws  are  proposed 
at  least  eight  days  before  they  are  enacted  and  are  not  contrary 
to  the  principles  contained  in  this  instrument. 

ARTICLE  XI. 
The  Trustees  shall  keep  fair  books  of  their  proceedings  and 
of  the  monies  received  and  expended  by  them,  and  shall  annually 
make  up  a  statement  of  their  accounts  previous  to  the  day  of  elec- 
tion for  Trustees  at  which  meeting  they  shall  lay  them  before  the 
Congregation  with  the  receipts  and  vouchers. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

Meetings  of  the  Trustees  shall  be  called  by  the  president  of 
his  own  accord  or  at  the  desire  of  any  two  members ;  the  notifica- 
tion to  be  either  from  the  desk  after  public  worship,  or  by  written 
notice  left  at  the  dwelling  house  of  each  member  or  by  adjourn- 
ment. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

The  electors  of  Trustees  shall  be  those  who  hold  pews  or  pay 
an  annual  sum  of  not  less  than  two  dollars  and  are  not  more  than 
six  months  in  arrears,  provided  they  have  held  a  pew  six  months. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

When  a  Congregational  Meeting  shall  be  necessary  about  the 
temporalities  of  the  Church,  or  any  matter  not  herein  provided  for, 
the  design  of  the  meeting  shall  be  mentioned  when  called,  and 
three  days  shall  intervene  between  the  notice  given  and  the  meeting 
of  the  Congregation. 

ARITCLE  XV. 

The  Congregational  Meeting  may  be  called  either  by  the 
Trustees  or  at  the  desire  of  any  six  pew  holders  ;  the  voters  at 
Congregational  Meetings  shall  be  such  as  are  entitled  to  vote  for 
Trustees,  except  that  the  minister  may  have  a  vote  at  all  such 
meetings  and  also  a  vote  at  the  election  of  Trustees. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  this 
twenty-sixth  day  of  July  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  htmdred  and  fifty-eight  (1858). 

JAMES  PRICE, 
JOSEPH  A.  A/[cBRIDE, 
THOMAS  McBRIDE, 
ROBERT  DUNLAP, 
RICHARD  H.  LACKEY, 
JAMES  LACKEY, 
ROBERT  CHAMBERS, 
ALEXANDER  LACKEY, 
DANIEL  MURPHY, 


444  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH, 

And  now,  October  4,  1858,  this  Charter  examined  and  ap- 
proved. 

JOSEPH  ALLISON. 

Be  it  Remembered,  That  at  a  Court  of  Common  Picas  for  the 
City  and  County  of  Philadelphia,  held  at  Philadelphia  on  the  fourth 
day  of  October,  A.  D.  1858,  the  instrument  of  writing  hereunto 
annexed,  was  duly  presented  to  the  said  Court  on  behalf  of  the 
persons  therein  named  in  order  that  they  might  become  incorpo*- 
rated  according  to  the  law,  and  the  objects,  articles  and  conditions 
therein  set  forth,  whereupon  on  motion  of  Albert  S.  Letchworth, 
Esq.,  the  Court  order  and  decree  that  the  said  instrument  be  filed 
and  that  notice  of  said  application  be  published  according  to  law. 
And  now,  to-wit,  this  sixth  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1858,  due  proof 
of  said  publication  having  been  exhibited  to  the  said  Court,  and 
the  said  Court  having  examined  the  said  instrument  of  writing 
and  the  objects,  articles  and  conditions  therein  contained,  appear- 
ing to  be  lawful  and  no  cause  having  been  shown  to  the  contrary, 
do  decree  and  declare  that  the  persons  therein  named  shall,  accord- 
ing to  the  articles  and  conditions  in  the  said  instrument  set  forth 
and  contained,  become  and  be  a  corporation  and  body  politic  in 
law  and  in  fact,  and  further  do  direct  that  the  said  instrument  and 
charter  of  incorporation  shall  be  recorded  in  the  office  for  record- 
ing deeds,  etc.,  for  the  City  and  County  of  Philadelphia. 

Certified  from  the  Records  of  the  said  Court  this  sixth  day  of 
December,  A.  D.  1858. 

Witness  mv  hand  the  seal  of  the  said  Court. 

(Seal)        '  THOS.  O.  WEBB, 

Proth.  C.  P. 

Recorded  in  the  ofiice  for  Recording  Deeds,  etc..  for  the  City 
and  County  of  Philadelphia  in  Miscellaneous  Book,  R.  D.  W..  No. 
I,  Page  643,  etc. 

Witness  my  hand  and  seal  of  office  this  fourteenth  day  of 
March.  A.  D.  1859. 

(Seal)  ALBERT  D.  BOILEAU, 

Recorder. 

APPENDIX  D. 

The  following  list  of  communicants  of  the  Seventh  Congrega- 
tion (luring  the  period  of  Mr.  Price's  pastorate,  copied  from  the 
writer's  memorandum  book,  will  be  foimd  approximately  com- 
plete ;  but  as  the  same  persons  were  sometimes  received  a  second 
time  after  absence,  this  roll  is  smaller  than  the  number  mentioned 
in  the  body  of  the  history,  because  their  names  only  appear  once 
here : 

Anderson,  Janet,  llainbridge,  Agnes  L. 

Anderson  Robena.  Harber.  .Abraham. 

Armstrong,  Mary  .Ann.  Hell.  Elizabeth. 

Arnold,  Margaret.  i'.lythe,  Margaret  Jane. 


APPENDIX. 


145 


Blythe,  Sarah. 

Borie,  Frances. 

Browning,  Robert  S. 

Browning,  Mary. 

Buckhister,  Emily. 

Buckhister,  Mina. 

Buckhister,   Teresa. 

Carson,  WilHam. 

Carson,  Mary. 

Cairns,  John. 

Cairns,  Ellen. 

Campbell,  Mrs. 

Chambers,  Robert. 

Chambers,  Margaret. 

Chambers,  Mary. 

Charlton,  Rachel. 

Charnley,  John. 

Christie,  Nancy. 

Clark,  Samuel. 

Clark,  Martha. 

Cole,  Ann. 

Conley,  Thomas. 

Cooper,  Margaretta  Murphy, 

Cooper,  Mary  Murphy. 

Cooper,  Charles  Murphy. 

Corson,  Rachel  W. 

Delap,  Andrew. 

Delap,  Margaret. 

Dunlap,  Robert. 

Eccersley,  Anna. 

Fernie,  Kate. 

Findley,  William. 

Findley,  Agnes. 

Fisher,  Elizabeth. 

Fisher,  Emma. 

P'oulkrod,  Josephine. 

Forrest,  Ann  Jane. 

Fry,  Mary. 

Fry,  Mary  Jane. 

Fulton,  Ellen. 

Fulton,  Mary  Jane. 

Galbraith,  Daniel. 

Galbraith,  Letitia. 

Galbraith,  Alexander. 

Getty,  Janet. 

Glennie,  Robert. 

Glennie,  Elizabeth. 

Graham,  Archibald. 

Graham,  Christina  B. 


Graham,  Jane  M. 
Graham,  Flora  B. 
Graham,  Mary  Ann. 
Graham,  Ann  Jane. 
Graham,  Anna  Shaw. 
Gray,  William  G. 
Gray,  Nancy. 
Gunn,  Robert  Russel. 
Gunn,  Clementina. 
Gwyn,  Agnes. 
Haddock,  James. 
Haddock,  Eliza. 
Hardman,  Sarah. 
Hardman,  Ellen. 
Hardman,  Rachel. 
Harper,  Eliza. 
Harvey,  Ann. 
Henderson,  Matilda. 
Hird,   Samuel. 

Hoagland,Eleanor  Deborah  Jones 
Horn,  Mrs. 
Houston,  John. 
Irvin,  Margaret. 
Johnston,  John. 
Kerr,  Margaret. 
Kirkwood,  Jane. 
Knox,  Eliza. 
Lackey,  James. 
Lackey,  Sarah. 
Lackey,  Alexander. 
Lackey,  Ann  Jane. 
Lackey,  Richard  H. 
Landis,  Elizabeth. 
•    Latimer,  Robert. 
Latimer,  Eliza. 
Latimer,  Anna  Eliza. 
Latimer,  James  M. 
Linn,  Mrs. 
Leslie,  Mary. 
Lytle,  Rebecca. 
McAllister,  Sarah. 
McAllister,  James. 
McBride,  Thomas. 
McBride,  Agnes. 
McBride,  Mary  Ann. 
McBride,  Robert. 
McBride,  Agnes. 
McBride,  Elizabeth. 
McBride,  Isabella  Chesney. 


14  0 


si-,\iCNTii  r.\rri:u  presbytf.riax  church. 


McBride,  Mary  Jane. 
McBridc,  Mary  Jane. 
McBride,  Josepli   A. 
McBride,  iMartha. 
McBride,  Nancy. 
McBride,  Thomas. 
McCaul,  Elizabeth. 
McClean,  Charles. 
McClean,  Hester. 
McCHntock,  Mr. 
McChntock,  Mary. 
McCHntock,  Ellen. 
McFarland,  Nancy. 
McFarland,  Mary  Jane. 
McEarlane,  Anna. 
McNichol,  Isabella  Ann. 
Martin,  Agnes. 
Martin,  William. 
Martin,  Amanda. 

Martin  Lizzie. 

Mackey,  Ann. 

Mackey,  Joseph. 

Mackey,  Jane. 

Mitchell,  Joseph. 
Mochrie,  Grace. 

Monach,  Mary. 

Montgomery,  Stephen. 

Moody,  Robert. 

Moody,  Marion. 

Moody,  Hester. 

Moody,   Isabella. 

Morrison,  John. 

Morrison,  Jane. 

Morrison,  Louisa. 

Morrison,  Sarah  A. 

Morrison,   Catherine. 

Morrison,  Bessie. 

Moore,  John. 

Mortimer,  Martha. 

Mullcnx,  Catharine. 

Murphy,  Daniel. 

Murphy,  Matilda. 

Murray,  Robert. 

Murray,  Ann. 

Murray,  John. 

Murray,  Isabella. 

Murray,  Alexander. 

Murray,  Anna. 

Newton,  Mary. 


Nixon,  Mary  Ann 
Nixon,  Susan. 
Nixon,  Mary  B. 
Noble,  Susan. 
Uelschlager,  Henry. 
Oelschlager,  Wilhelmina 
Outon,  Catherine. 
Patton,  Margaret. 
Pierson,  Silas. 
Pierson.  Ann  Eliza. 
Pollock,  James. 
Pollock,  Annie. 
Price,  Anna  Robertson. 
Ray,  Ann. 
Ray,  George  T. 
Richmond,  Jane. 
Rogers,  Margaret. 
Ross,  Henry. 
Ross.  Margaret. 
Ross,  James  T. 
Ross,  Elizabeth, 
Ross,  Jane. 
Rowan,  Eliza. 
Rowan,  George. 
Rowan,  Sarah  Jane. 
Russel,  Robert. 
Scott,  Mary. 
Scott,  Sarah. 
Scott,  Matilda. 
Scott,  Matilda. 
Scott,  Hamilton. 
Scott,  David. 
Scott,  Annie. 
Scott,  Anna  Isabella. 
Schwartz,  Lizzie. 
Schwartz,  Louise. 
Sinclair.  William. 
Sinclair,  Elizabeth. 
Shuttlcworth.  Jane. 
Shaw.  Martin. 
Shaw.  Mrs. 
Smiley,  Jane. 
vSmilcy,  .'\nn  Jane. 
Smiley.  Letitia  M. 
Smith,  James. 
Smith.  Rebecca. 
Smith,  James. 
Smith,  Ann. 
Smith,  Tanc. 


APPENDIX. 


wr 


Smith,  Jane. 

Smith,  Maggie. 

Smith,  Mary. 

Smith,  Letitia. 

Smith,  George  Washington. 

Stratton,  William  W. 

Stewart,  John  J. 

Stewart,  Mary. 

Stott,  Mrs. 

Staurt,  Annie. 

Soley,  Mary  Matilda. 

Sykes,  Samuel. 

Sykes,  Sarah. 

Taylor,  William. 

Taylor,  Jane. 

Taylor,  Margaret  M. 

Teas,  Samuel. 

Teas,  Elizabeth  Dorcas. 

Thompson,  Mary. 

Treusdale,  Elizabeth 


Twiggs,  Fannie. 
Uber,  Clara  E. 
Walker,  Samuel. 
Walker,  William. 
Walker,  Jane. 
Walker,  Matilda. 
Waters,  John. 
Waters,  Mary. 
Waterhouse,  Elizabeth. 
Waterhouse,  Lizzie. 
Waterson,  Eliza  Janr 
Whittington,  Virginia. 
Wignal,  John. 
Wolf,  Rachel. 
Wolf,  Margaret. 
Wood,  Aiary. 
Wood,  Mary. 
Wood,  Josephine. 
Woodside,  James. 
Woodside.  Eliza. 


APPENDIX  E. 

SEVENTH  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  FRANK- 
FORD,    PHILADELPHIA,   ROLL   OF    SABBATH 
SCHOOL  SCHOLARS   FOR  THE  YEAR 
YEAR  BEGINNING  JANUARY  i,  1873. 


Allen,  Samuel. 
Allen  David. 
Allen,  Ellen. 
Allen,  Robert. 
Armstrong,  Lydia. 
Armstrong,  Miss. 
Armstrong,  Willie 
Arnold,  William. 
Arnold,  James. 
Arnold,  Sarah. 
Arnold,  Ida  May. 
Bainbridge,  Agnes  L. 
Beeson,  Maggie. 
Carson,  John  K. 
Carson,  Alexander. 
Cairns. 

Campbell,  William. 
Cowden,  Mrs.  Mary. 
Cowden,  John. 
Conaway. 
Clark,  Ann  Eliza. 


Clark,  Sarah  Jane. 

Clark,  Samuel. 

Clark,  Sarah,  Cedar  Grove 

Clapp,  George. 

Clapp,  Rachel. 

Clapp,  Ann. 

Cox,  Elwood. 

Eccersly,  Sarah  L. 

Elliott. 

Foulkrod,  Josephine. 

Foulkrod,  Anna. 

Foulkrod,   Wilhemina. 

Foulkrod,  Harry. 

Fulton,  Ellen. 

Falbright,    George,    Leiper    and 

Allen  streets. 
Gaskill,  John. 
Galbraith,  Clarence. 
Galbraith,  Howard. 
Graham,  Mary. 
Graham,  Walter. 


148 


SICVUNTH    LNITKD    rKKSUVTKRIAN    CHURCH. 


Cirahani.  James. 

Ciraliaiii.   Ivciiipc. 

Graham,  Archibald. 

Graham,  Anna. 

Graliam,  Flora. 

(^ilennie,  Robert. 

Glcnnic  Kate. 

Glennie,  Jane. 

Hague.  James.  Tackawana  St. 

Hay,  Kannie. 

Hart,  Emma,  Leipcr  St. 

Hart.   I'Iddie. 

Hardin.^,  Archibald  T. 

I  iird.  Samuel. 

Irving,  Joseph. 

Irving,  Susan  Jane. 

Irving  Samuel. 

Jones,  \'ioIa. 

Jones,  Emma. 

Knox,  .Alexander  D. 

Kern. 

Kane,  Mary. 

Laird,  Robert. 

Laird.  Maggie. 

Latimer.  IVIarv. 

Latimer.  Robert  L. 

Latimer.  Thomas  W 

Lehman.  Sallie. 

Lehman,  Anna  M. 

Lehman,  Mary  Ellen. 

Lehman,  Lizzie. 

Lewis.  Mary  Ellen. 

Ivewis.  Samuel. 

Lawhcad.  .Anna. 

Martin.  .Agnes. 

.Martin.  .Amanda. 

Martin.  EJizabcth. 

McClintock.  Ellen. 

.McGlintock,  Margaret. 

.Mcl'^arland.  Tane. 

.Mcl'arland.  Jane. 

.Mcl'arland,  John. 

Mcl'arland,  William. 

McFarland.  Marv  T',. 

Moofly.  Willie. 

Moody.  Sarah  Jane. 

Mfxjdy,  Robert. 

Moody.  Maggie. 

Montgomery,  Daniel. 


Montgomery,   Kate. 
Montgomery,  Stephen 
McClane,  James 
McClane,  Sallie. 
.McClane,  Thompson. 
McClane.  Charlie. 
McClane.  Hester. 
McClane,  Mattie. 
.McKinnev.  William  H. 
.McAllister,   Hugh. 
.McAllister,  Alary. 
.McMurtrie,  Nettie. 
Xornuralder,  .\dda. 
Xelson,  Jennie. 
Xelson. 

Outon,  Catherine. 
Pollock,  Mrs.  .Annie. 
Pollock,  Margaret  J. 
Pollock,  John. 
Pollock,  Samuel. 
Pollock,  Mary. 
Rowan,  Jane. 
Richmond,  John. 
Ross,  James. 
Ross,  Jane. 
Ross,  Mary. 
Rodman.   Samuel.  Jr 
Rehn.  Eliza. 
Rehn,  Lillie. 
Rehn.  Fannie. 
Rehn.  Alary  Ann. 
Rush.  Henry. 
Rush.  George. 
Rush.  Joseph. 
Rushton.  William. 
Saint  Clair.  Robert. 
Saint  Clair.  William, 
v^chwartz.  John.  Sr. 
Schwartz.  John,  Jr. 
.Schwartz.  (Vorge. 
Schwartz.  Willie, 
v^chwartz.  T.,izzic. 
Schwartz.  Louisa, 
v^huttleworth.  Jane, 
v^huttleworth.  T'^hn. 
Shuttleworth.  Sadie. 
Shuttleworth,  Alary. 
vStewart.  Airs.  Alarv. 
Stott,   Marv. 


APPENDIX.  149 

Snyder,  Mabel.  Ulmer,  Willie. 

Snyder,  Carrie.  Vanegrift,  Clara. 

Scott,  Isabella,  Cedar  Grove.  Vanegrift,  Mary. 

Taylor,  Ellen.  Vanegrift,  Ida. 

Taylor,  Maggie.  Vanegrift,  George. 

Taylor,  Joseph.  Wyand,  Robert. 

Taylor,  Lizzie.  Wyand,  John. 

Taylor,  Frank.  Worthington.  Eliza. 

Taylor,  Elmer.  Worthington.  Annie. 

Taylor,  Flora.  Worthington,  Sarah. 

Taylor,  Jessie.  Welsh,  Robert. 
Taylor,  Sarah  Jane,  Leiper  St. 

APPENDIX  F. 

CONTRIBUTIONS   FOR  ERECTION   OF   NEW    BUILD- 
ING OF  THE  SEVENTH  UNITED  PRESBY- 
TERIAN CHURCH,  PHILADELPHIA. 

This  is  not  a  complete  list,  but  only  a  sample  of  offerings  and 
donations  of  $20  and  above.  The  amounts  here  given  by  mem- 
bers  of  the  Frankford  Congregation  are  likely  what  they  sub- 
scribed when  it  was  proposed  to  erect  the  church  ;  but  they  gave 
frequently  afterwards.  A  published  list  of  donations  of _  con- 
gregations in  various  parts  of  the  country  up  to  1865  will  be 
found  in  the  Souvenir;  but  some  of  these  gifts  were  increased 
in  later  times,  as  for  instance,  the  First  Church,  Philadelphia, 
gave  $328.50  and  Third,   Philadelphia,  $345-50- 

The  collection  books  used  by  the  writer,  in  many  cases  con- 
taining the  autographs  of  donors,  are  not  only  a  great  curiosity, 
but  most  valuable  as  an  object  lesson  to  future  church  beggars; 
and  we  shall  endeavor  to  make  them  a  part  of  the  Souvenir. 
An  analysis  of  some  three  of  these  books  reveals  the  following 
curious  statistics.  Book  A,  which  would  not  allow  any  donation 
to  blacken  its  pages  under  five  dollars,  shows  the  following: 
One  person  gave  $500,  one  $260,  two  $250,  three  $200,  one  $225, 
three  $150,  twelve  $100,  twenty-three  $50,  twenty-five  $25,  ten 
20,  sixty-six  10,  four  hundred  and  seven  $5.  covering  twenty 
pages.  In  one  congregation — Hopewell,  Ohio — the  writer  only 
showed  Book  A  and  got  a  good  start  among  the  liberal  farmers, 
and  secured  41  five-dollar  subscriptions.  Book  B  will  not  ac- 
cept less  than  two  dollars,  and  has  this  report:  One  hundred 
and  eighteen  persons  gave  $.3  each,  covering  seven  pages  of  the 
book;  two  hundred  and  sixty  persons  gave  $2,  covering  fifteen 
pages ;  three  hundred  and  sixty-nine  persons  gave  on  Book  C  $1 
apiece,  covering  twenty-two  pages. 

FRANKFORD     CONTRIBUTORS     OUTSIDE     SEV- 
ENTH UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH :    Agnes  Ten- 


160  SEVENTH    UNITED    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

ant  bequeathes  $5CX) ;  William  Welsh  $ioo;  Richard  Ciarscd  $100; 
William  liaird  (concert),  $200;  John  R.  Savage.  $50:  Hays  & 
lUlis.  $50 :  Joseph  Ball,  $75  ;  employes  Foster's  Mills,  $30.  The 
tollowinjiif  $25  each :  W^illiam  C3verinp[ton,  John  Clendenninpj, 
Samuel  P.  Faunce,  Dr.  Guernsey.  Sr..  Rowland  Bros.  The  fol- 
lowinjT  p^ave  $20  each:  Paxton  Fleminp^  and  Lloyd,  Samuel  Bol- 
ton, Mrs.  Thomas  Duffield.  Miss  Eliza  Teese. 

PHIL.VDELPHI.A  C(  )XTR11;LT()RS  :  Margaret  Living- 
ston. $260;  Thomas  Stinson  and  family,  $250;  Dr.  Dales  and  fam- 
ily. $200;  Charles  Porter,  $200;  James  McCandlcss,  $425;  Elliott 
Brothers,  $150;  Samuel  Kennedy,  $125;  James  Moore,  $110.  The 
following  $100  each:  \V.  S.  Young,  David  R.  Ervin.  Fannie 
Stevenson,  Joseph  A.  McKee.  Dr.  jo.seph  T.  Cooper  gave  $75. 
The  following  j^aid  $50:  George  H.  Stuart,  Alexander  Ervin, 
Mary  McKee.  Samuel  Thornton,  Edward  T.  Mason,  Rev.  W. 
S.  Owens,  Joseph  Singerly,  John  Alexander.  Dornan  and  May- 
bin,  James  Ferree.  S.  C.  Huey,  the  Mis.ses  Young.  The  follow- 
ing gave  $25 :  James  M.  Ferguson.  George  Ferguson,  Harriet 
Julian.  William  .Arrott,  Charles  Williams,  John  Wilson,  R.  Paul, 
Jr.,  John  Clark,  James  B.  Rogers,  Mrs.  Camlos,  and  these  gave 
$20:     Robert  Paul  and  William  Getty. 

CONTRIBUTORS  OUTSIDE  OF  PHILADELPHIA: 
Isaac  McGay  $225;  Henry  Harrison  $200;  Mclntyre  Sisters 
$150:  received  $50  from  Thomas  R.  Rich,  James  P.  Hanna. 
.Archibald  Cooper.  Sarah  R.  Hanna;  John  Dean  gave  $35.  .An- 
derson Brothers  $30.  The  following  donated  $25 :  James  Ham- 
ilton, Bryce  &  Company,  J.  G.  Reed.  Jamison  Brothers.  Herron 
Brothers,  Jane  Cummings.  Thomas  Sweeney  &  Son  ;  and  these 
gave  $20:  James  Hall,  Forsvthe  Brothers,  Messrs.  Patterson, 
Rev.  John  T."Pressly.  D.  0..  John  M.  Wallace,  David  Gregg. 

SOiME  SEVENTH  UNITED  CHURCH  people  gave  as 
follows:  Daniel  Murphy  $150;  .Alexander  I^ackey  $100;  Mary 
Wood  and  family  $100;  James  Price  $200.  The  following  gave 
$50:  Daniel  Galbraith,  Thomas  B.  Taylor,  Robert  S.  r>rowning. 
Samuel  Teas.  R.  H.  Lackey  gave  $30.  These  donated  $25: 
Maggie  M.  Taylor,  Matilda  .Murphy.  .Margaret  M.  Cooper.  E. 
I).  J.  Hoaglancl ;  and  $20  each  were  donated  by  Silas  Peirson, 
Samuel  Sykes  and  James  .Allen. 

APPENDIX  G. 

Statistical  table  of  Seventh  United  I 're.sbyterian  Church. 
1854  to  1R73.  In  1^54  the  name  of  the  congregation  is  placed 
on  Synod's  table  of  Philadelphia  Presbytery  without  any  report. 
Up  to  the  Union  in  1858  the  congregation  was  the  Fourth  .\s- 
sociate,  after  that  Seventh  United  Presbyterian.     Family  number 


.lA  .\i  i;^     I  •!»  II   i;.    1  < 


APPEJNDIX. 


161 


was  omitted  from  Assembly's  tables  after  1868.     Congregational 
salaries  not  reported  until  i860;  nor  schools  until  1866. 


CONTRIBUTIONS 

SAB. 

SCHOOL 

to 

M 

<u 

0 

M 

V 

_  0) 

■3 

a 

^  e« 

>< 

a 

0^ 

a 

u 
0 
s 

0) 

Q 

1° 

033 

CO 

—4  * 

MS 
G  a> 
0  p. 
0  X 

W 

15 
2 

i| 

6h 

00 

0 

03 

0 

3 

.Q 

a 
0 
0 

■^  C 

1854 

300. 

185s 

.'  18 

26 

26 

46. 

46. 

1-75 

250. 

1856 

.  19 

30 

8 

4 

44- 

44- 

1.48 

250. 

1857 

•  15 

35 

13 

8 

66. 

66. 

1.87 

225. 

1858 

.  21 

38 

13 

10 

54. 

54- 

1.42 

250. 

1859 

.  28 

40 

13 

II 

37. 

37- 

•93 

200. 

i860 

•  34 

51 

17 

6 

47- 

300. 

79- 

426. 

8.35 

200. 

I86I 

.  36 

60 

15 

6 

52. 

350. 

127. 

528. 

8.81 

150. 

1862 

.  36 

63 

II 

IC 

19- 

400. 

194- 

613. 

9-74 

TOO. 

1863 

.  40 

64 

9 

8 

22. 

400. 

192. 

614. 

958 

100. 

1864 

•  40 

64 

13 

13 

12. 

500. 

788. 

1235- 

18.75 

100. 

1865 

•  50 

88 

27 

3 

182. 

500. 

i52. 

834. 

9-47 

100. 

1866 

•  50 

95 

8 

6 

50. 

600. 

800. 

1450. 

15.21 

21 

145 

1867 

•  43 

75 

7 

27 

150. 

600. 

506. 

1256. 

16.74 

21 

145 

1868 

•  50 

86 

20 

9 

118. 

600. 

446. 

1 1 64. 

13-53 

20 

140 

200. 

1869 

90 

15 

12 

56. 

700. 

3320. 

4076. 

45-28 

20 

130 

225. 

200. 

1870 

90 

6 

6 

22. 

700. 

821. 

1641. 

18.23 

IS 

130 

82. 

250. 

I87I 

91 

II 

6 

28. 

700. 

1 1 12. 

1878. 

20.63 

16 

130 

75- 

225. 

1872 

95 

24 

21 

23. 

808. 

621. 

1464. 

15-41 

15 

132 

88. 

30a 

1873 

87 

15 

23 

0. 

822. 

563. 

1441. 

16.56 

16 

140 

87. 

300. 

271 


3700. 


Princeton 


„,,,,.,,s,™»nr,,Ha' 


'lM  01 2  01160   5294 


